The United Kingdom and Japan have joined forces to develop a jet engine demonstrator for the next generation of fighter jets, the UK’s Ministry of Defence announced.  

The UK, together with Sweden and Italy, is currently working on the Tempest, while a team led by Mitsubishi is developing the F-X, Japan’s next generation stealth fighter. 

“As I have seen at first hand our partners in Japan have made enormous progress on technologies that can complement our own advanced skills and could help ensure both our Armed Forces remain at the forefront of military innovation,” UK Defence Procurement Minister, Jeremy Quin said in a press release.  

Work on the joint project is expected to start in 2022, with the UK initially investing £30 million, with a further £200 million investment to follow. 

Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems will work on the project, while Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and IHI will work as their Japanese partners. 

The Tempest and the F-X are just two of several initiatives planning to develop a sixth-generation fighter jet. The Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program in the US, and the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) developed by France, Germany and Spain share the same goal and a similar timeline.