The new fighter jet deal was discussed by defense ministers of Japan, Italy, and the U.K. 

New Fighter Jet Development Deal Discussed by Japan, Italy, UK Ministers; Here's Their Plan
(Photo : Photo by JOE GIDDENS/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Typhoon fighter jets are pictured at Royal Air Force base RAF Coningsby, near Lincoln, eastern England, on December 9, 2022, during a visit by Britain's Prime Minister. - Japan, Britain and Italy said Friday they will jointly develop a next-generation fighter jet, in a project that holds scope for future cooperation with allies including the United States.

They conducted their latest meeting in Tokyo on Thursday, Mar. 16. 

Robert Ben Lobban Wallace (Secretary of State for Defense of the U.K.), Guido Crosetto (Italian Minister of Defense), and Yasukazu Hamada (Minister of Defense of Japan) also plan to discuss another operation in the Indo-Pacific region. 

New Fighter Jet Development Deal Discussed by Japan, Italy, UK Ministers

According to Japan Times' latest report, the three-way jet project was when the Russian-Ukraine conflict began in February 2022. 

New Fighter Jet Development Deal Discussed by Japan, Italy, UK Ministers; Here's Their Plan
(Photo : Photo by Tomohiro Ohsumi/Getty Images)
Japan's Air Self-Defense Force's F-15 fighter jets fly during a review after the graduation ceremony of the National Defense Academy on March 22, 2020 in Yokosuka, Japan. 508 students graduated the military academy which educates and trains future leaders of Japan's Self-Defense Forces today. 

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In their fighter jet, the three nations plan to develop a state-of-the-art warplane, which is expected to be unveiled in 2035. 

This next-gen defense aircraft would replace the F-2 fighter jets of Japan, which are operated by the Air Self-Defense Force. It would also be used to replace the combined Eurofighter jets of Britain and Italy. 

The next-gen fighter jet will is expected to be developed by Britain's BAE Systems, Italy's Leonardo, and Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. But, more companies are expected to join them as the fighter jet development continues.

Iran, Russia Also Enters Jet Deal

Aside from Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom, two more countries also entered another fighter jet deal. 

France 24 reported that the deal between Iran and Russia was finalized, allowing the Iranian government to purchase Russia's Sukhoi Su-35 fighter jets. 

These advanced fighter jets are expected to further enhance Iran's aging defense aircraft fleet, which includes Russian MiG, U.S. F-4, F-5, etc. 

If you want to learn more about this deal, you can click this link

Other stories we recently wrote about defense: 

A new AI warship electrical layout was developed by Chinese military-funded researchers. Meanwhile, the U.S. Air Force's new MUTANT missile, which can bend its nose, was recently introduced. 

For more news updates about fighter jets, missiles, and other defense innovations, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes.  

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