At the G20 Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Italy, Japan, and the UK discussed expanding their collaborative 6th-generation fighter jet project, the Global Combat Aircraft Programme (GCAP).

This initiative was established in December 2022 when the three nations agreed to develop a next-generation fighter jet to be operational by 2035.

The UK, under the leadership of Prime Minister Keir Starmer, recently approved the project aimed at addressing threats from Russia and China by integrating UK and Italy's Tempest Project.

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer explored the possibility of involving additional countries in the project during their meeting.

The project, set to base its headquarters in the UK, involves aerospace giants like BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Leonardo Aerospace, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

The ambitious plan anticipates creating a 6th-generation stealth fighter jet, potentially becoming the world's second such aircraft after the US's B-21 Raider Bomber by Northrop Grumman.

The cost remains unspecified, but the goal is to have the jet ready for service by 2035.