Germany is willing to join the sixth-generation fighter jet project jointly developed by Italy, the UK, and Japan.

Italian media: Germany is considering joining the Italian-UK-Japanese joint development project for a new fighter aircraft

According to a report by the Italian newspaper "La Posta," sources have indicated that Germany is considering joining the possibility of jointly developing the next-generation fighter aircraft with Italy, the UK, and Japan within the framework of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).

In December 2022, the leaders of Japan, Italy, and the UK reached an agreement to jointly develop the next-generation fighter aircraft under the framework of the GCAP, aiming to complete it by 2035. This fighter aircraft will replace the F-2 fighter in Japan, and the European "Typhoon" fighter in Italy and the UK. The aircraft is expected to become one of the most advanced combat aircraft in service globally.

According to the report, after France and Germany abandoned the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) fighter production project, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz discussed potential issues regarding Germany's participation in the GCAP during their talks.

The newspaper stated that Germany's participation in the project with Italy would "symbolically strike the Franco-German axis."

According to the "La Posta," the Global Combat Air Programme not only plans to develop the next-generation fighter aircraft but also aims to create a unified operational platform integrating drones, satellites, and the "combat cloud" concept. Leonardo of Italy, BAE Systems of the UK, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of Japan have already participated in the project.

Western media reported in early February that, given the unstable relationship with France, Germany has shifted its focus toward cooperation with Italy to reshape a new Europe. An unnamed Italian official told the UK's "The Daily Telegraph" that this agreement, focusing on cooperation between Italy and Germany in defense, migration, and trade, indicates that a "new center within the EU" is forming.

Original article: toutiao.com/article/1856315440763904/

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