Japan, Britain, Italy Eye Japanese Factory to Build Next-Generation Fighter Jet

Japan, Britain and Italy are planning to anchor Japan’s role in the next-generation fighter jet program at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ Komaki South plant in Aichi Prefecture. Sources say the Japanese center is expected to be set up by the end of this year, with British engineers already working on the aircraft’s design at the facility. The three countries are coordinating development and manufacturing roles under the trilateral Global Combat Air Programme, with deployment targeted for the mid-2030s.