UK, Japan to Sign GCAP Fighter Contract by Month End

The UK Prime Minister’s Office stated on Saturday that Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Japanese Premier Sanae Takaichi are expected to confirm their shared commitment to the Global Combat Air Programme and discuss the launch of the next phase, including an international contract to be signed by the end of the month.

The flagship project involves Italy, Japan and the UK. The sixth-generation fighter has a planned entry into service in 2035.

Tokyo raised concerns about the UK holding up funding for an existing £686 million ($905 million) design and development contract. The UK Ministry of Defence and Treasury have been addressing a budget shortfall related to GCAP. 5 billion to address an £18 billion defense acquisitions funding gap.

The gap is partly to be addressed by cutting other departments’ budgets by 1 percent. Al Carns, former UK armed forces minister, resigned hours after John Healey. John Healey stated he resigned after the funding shortfall.

He had pressed Keir Starmer to commit 3 percent of GDP to military spending by 2030. 68 percent of GDP, according to the BBC. Reports have also said that in a bid to keep tighter control of finances, the Treasury is due to bring GCAP funding in-house, taking such power away from the MoD in the process.