GCAP: Japan, Britain and Italy team up to build sixth-generation fighter jet
CNNDec 09, 2022
UK to Build 'Next Generation' Fighter Jets
The Facts
Following the signature of an international cooperative accord in Tokyo on Thursday, the UK will build a "next generation" of stealth fighter military aircraft. The UK will be manufacturing the planes for Japan, Italy, and the British military.
Twelve months ago, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a collaborative international effort to build fighter planes with advanced technology and supersonic capability. The Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) will have its headquarters for the partnership in the UK, with the new "Tempest" model intended to replace the Royal Airforce Typhoon by 2035.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
Upon announcing the joint venture in December of last year, the leaders of Italy, Japan, and the UK said that the sixth-generation fighter jet is built to match or surpass the finest airplanes now in use by nations like China, Russia, and possibly even that of the US. A new fighter is needed to preserve regional stability and defend democracy and the rules-based global order.
Establishment-critical narrative
"Advanced aircraft" are notorious for being black holes within the military-industrial complex when it comes to wasting taxpayer money. Take the enigmatic US F-35 boondoggle that racked up costs 80% over budget while being 10 years behind schedule. The biggest winners of these projects tend to be defense contractors — not democracies worldwide and certainly not citizens footing the bill.
Nerd narrative
There is a 50% chance that at least 11.8% of NATO member states, excluding the USA, will increase their real 2023 defense spending by at least 25% compared to 2022, according to the Metaculus prediction community.