Italy defence minister demands equal weight in UK, Japan fighter partnership

FILE PHOTO: Italy's Defence Minister Guido Crosetto gestures during an interview with Reuters, in Rome, Italy, December 16, 2022. REUTERS/Remo Casilli/File Photo

ROME (Reuters) - Italy must have equal treatment in a partnership with Britain and Japan to develop a new jet fighter, Rome's defence minister told Reuters, as talks proceed to define the roles each country has in the ambitious project.

The three nations this month announced the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) venture to develop by 2035 a next generation jet which would combine the British-led Tempest project with Japan's F-X programme.