TOKYO: A Japanese national will head an international body for the joint development of a next-generation fighter jet by Japan, Britain and Italy, the three countries’ defense leaders confirmed Thursday.

Japanese Defense Minister KIHARA Minoru, British Defense Secretary Grant Shapps and Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto agreed at a meeting in Tokyo to establish the Global Combat Air Program International Government Organization. The organization, called GIGO, will be headquartered in Britain.

The three also confirmed that the head of a joint venture to be set up later for the development project will be from Italy.

Currently, Japan, Britain and Italy each have contracts with domestic companies over the project.

GIGO will manage those contracts and the joint venture in a unified manner to streamline orders for designing and manufacturing work. It will also take charge of the protection of confidential information involving the development and eventually the management of the exports of the jet.

After the meeting, the defense leaders signed a convention on GIGO’s establishment. The Japanese government will seek parliamentary approval of the deal at the next ordinary session starting in January next year.

GIGO is expected to be established in fiscal 2024 after ratification procedures are completed by the three countries.

Thursday’s meeting was attended also by officials of defense equipment makers Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan, BAE Systems PLC of Britain and Leonardo SpA of Italy. The three will take part in the jet development.

Participants agreed to promote talks on how to divide work and closely cooperate to complete the development in 2035 as currently planned.

The development project is a “historic program in which Japan, Britain and Italy will bring together excellent technologies while sharing costs and risks,” Kihara told a joint press conference.

JIJI Press