Rishi Sunak says a new defence partnership with Italy and Japan to develop next-generation fighter jets will help to ‘keep the country safe’.
The jet, which the UK will call Tempest, will be a successor to the RAF Typhoon and is hoped to take to the skies by 2035.
It is expected to be capable of firing hypersonic weapons.
Mr Sunak launched the first major phase of the programme during a visit to RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire yesterday.
Mr Sunak praised the defence relationship with Japan and Italy and said the development of the new jet
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The Tempest will replace the Typhoon and will be developed by 2035. It will have the capacity to fire hypersonic weapons
Mr Sunak described Italy and Japan as ‘two of our closest allies’ and said the next generation of aircraft would help to keep the country safe
He said: ‘We are partnering with Italy and Japan – two of our closest allies – to build this next generation of aircraft that’s going to keep our country safe and it’s something we can all be very proud of.’
Mr Sunak said the partnership, known as the global combat air programme, will ensure the UK and its allies are ‘outpacing and out-manoeuvring those who seek to do us harm’.
It merges the UK and Italy’s future combat air system projects with the Japanese F-X programme. Ministers hope that other countries may join the project.
