"UK, Italy, and Japan Collaborate on Next-Gen Stealth Fighter Program"

The Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) partners of Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom have signed a new treaty, with the UK selected to host the partnership's headquarters. The program aims to launch its development phase in 2025 and start deliveries in 2035. The leadership of the program will rotate between the partner countries, and industries from all three countries will collaborate on the aircraft's design and production. The GCAP partnership could potentially expand to include Saudi Arabia, although the Japanese government reportedly opposes their bid. GCAP is one of several sixth-gen fighter aircraft programs in the West, with the Future Combat Aircraft System (FCAS) in Europe and the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program in the United States also in development.