Japan, Britain, Italy agree to advance fighter jet co-development

TheLizardKing

The UK is a dying and irrelevant country.

You already said that.

Too many participants, too much input from differing angles produces a less than favorable outcome.

Coalitions of three nations have delivered high quality combat jets. Eurofighter Typhoon is an example. So is the Panavia Tornado. The well regarded Sepecat Jaguar was a Franco-British collaboration. The F-35 has 8 nations who partnered in developing components of the jet and shared the cost of development. Production is also shared. And before you start arguing the F-35 is an example of what not to do, consider that nobody outside the program really knows what that airplane can do but what little I do know about it tells me the team took on what was at the time the most difficult challenge in aviation, to make a plane that has total situational awareness, the ability to integrated data from its own sensors and everyone else's and quarterback the fight, all while staying undetectable. No other aircraft does that. Nobody is even close. It's not just turn and burn dogfighting. In fact it should never come to that.

One of the really cool things about the F-35 is that the sensors combined with the presentation on the inside of the pilots helmet face shield allows the pilot to look down in the cockpit and see what is outside the aircraft below him or her, and engage any target with weapons. No other aircraft can do that.

Very good news. With all the conflict and threats across the world currently, the US cannot supply everyone with the latest equipment, so programs like this are absolutely needed.

And if Trump ends up being elected, other nations will be totally unable to rely on the US for four years (longer if one of his acolytes is elected after that), making such independent cooperation among free nations doubly-important.

UK is currently conducting a defense review to decide which one of its two major defense projects to keep, GCAP or AUKUS, or drop both.

Sigh. There is Samu's world, and there is real life. The UK is conducting a defense review because the incoming government considers it to be underfunded and hollowed out. It is emphatically not about cutting programs. Rather it is about acknowledging the threats the UK faces and adding weapons, ships, aircraft and manpower necessary to meet those threats.

https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2024/07/16/new-uk-government-orders-review-of-hollowed-out-armed-forces/

Real life, not fantasy land.

Actually, I spoke to a US pilot who flies the big troop carriers/machinery carriers you might see flying along the Japanese coast...his view was that the F35 has had TOO MANY FUNCTIONS BOLTED ON reducing the effectiveness of the aircraft.

Too many cooks spoil the broth and a camel is a horse designed by a committee.

A transport pilot is not even remotely qualified to make such a judgement. That might be his or her opinion but it is not a full informed one.

The cargo plane he or she flies was likewise "designed by a committee". It's called the Program Office. Every military aircraft, weapon, sensor and ground vehicle has one. Aircraft are never designed by one person. It is always a team effort and those teams can be pretty large for a complex aircraft. I'm saying this as someone who was a military pilot and later was part of one of those program offices. I know both sides.

At the Japan-Britain talks, the two ministers agreed on enabling Japan's Self-Defense Forces to protect British military assets in noncombat situations, Kihara said.

How does this work? The concept of protection leads to combat to actually protect. How or what is noncombat protection? Protection from who or what exactly? Pirtaes or terrorists that may try to harm but only when combat is not expected. Very confusing concept.

elephant200Today 05:36 pm JST

The British labour party were deep red leftists not very enthusias or effective of arms productions during the years they are in power.

The "deep red" British Labour Party was 30+ years ago. Starmer's government is center-left (and much more "center" than "left"); he purged the party's "real" left a while back.

https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/keir-starmer-left-wing-purge-labour-b2553725.html

The UK will have no problems working with Japan and Italy on this.

Actually, I spoke to a US pilot who flies the big troop carriers/machinery carriers you might see flying along the Japanese coast...his view was that the F35 has had TOO MANY FUNCTIONS BOLTED ON reducing the effectiveness of the aircraft.

Too many cooks spoil the broth and a camel is a horse designed by a committee.

I wouldn't be surprised if the UK sold off one of their aircraft carriers. The only problem I have with these new jets is, are they sooooo expensive, you can't afford to lose one so you can't afford to use them.

Desert TortoiseToday  01:36 pm JST

One of the really cool things about the F-35 is that the sensors combined with the presentation on the inside of the pilots helmet face shield allows the pilot to look down in the cockpit and see what is outside the aircraft below him or her, and engage any target with weapons. No other aircraft can do that.

I think the Eurofighter Typhoon has had that for years. Built by BAE systems.

Samit BasuToday  09:09 am JST

Under Labour government, the highest priority is funding of NHS and social welfare, not defense.

I think times have changed and the Cold War is back on. The conservatives cut defence to 2% compared to 2.5% under labour so it would only be returning to what was normal in the 90s. I expect radical reform in the NHS and probably some Royal Commission in the future. People will either have to pay via taxes or have a similar system to Germany, France, Japan, and Australia. There is even talk about the UK copying the Australian pension system, and I think that will come in another 20 years' time. Maybe even Japan. Sorry, Sir, you Saved too much money, so you won't be getting any STATE PENSION. Sorry, You should have spent what little you had and had fun with your family while you were young and healthy. So eventually they will look at means testing the triple lock.

Britian used to work with Germany and Spain as Typhoon fighter team. But why Germany and Spain went to work with France of their new generation fighter? Because that British project is expensive, cost overruns and ineffective. Japan is fallen into the trap that will cost them dearly not just money but their defense situation.

Britian under the Labour party will just making the project late behind schedule and cost them dearly !

indeed it is a smart and strategic agreement for all the participants. Well done Japan!

Just don't let the Italians or British anywhere near the electronics.

Streamer needs those "Deep Red" he is fragile and weak !

Too many participants, too much input from differing angles produces a less than favorable outcome.

Watch out! Japan might inadvertently leak your secrets. With the way Japanese military industry and rank and file members of the JSDF handle secrets, I wouldn't trust them with my house keys.

The UK is a dying and irrelevant country.

wallace

Thing can only get better

The British labour party were deep red leftists not very enthusias or effective of arms productions during the years they are in power. Unlike the conservative party were very capable of arms purchasing, that project will meet very fierce opposition and budget cuts lead to falling behind of schedule in coming years. Perhaps Japan has boarded on a slow boat or a wrong ship by participating this project !

Instead of make expensive stupid war planes, help your own countries first, your people needs help..

Clown world

@Mark

indeed it is a smart and strategic agreement for all the participants. Well done Japan!

UK is currently conducting a defense review to decide which one of its two major defense projects to keep, GCAP or AUKUS, or drop both.

Under Labour government, the highest priority is funding of NHS and social welfare, not defense.