Italy considers joining Japan's F-X fighter jet program
During a visit to Japan to meet with his Japanese counterpart, the Italian Minister of Defense Lorenzo Guerini expressed interest in joining the development of the Japanese F-X fighter jet.
Japan’s next-generation fighter jet will replace the Mitsubishi F-2, a Japanese version of the F-16, currently operated by the Japanese Air Self Defense Force. It should be a twin-engine stealth fighter which will include the research done on the experimental X-2 Shinshin, a canceled fifth-generation fighter jet program. In November 2020, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) was awarded the leadership of the F-X program.
Italy, together with the United Kingdom and Sweden, is currently working on the Tempest. The project involves the British companies BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce, the European missile manufacturer MBDA, and the Italian defense group Leonardo.
It is not the first time that more coordination between the two programs has been suggested. In December 2021, the UK's Ministry of Defence announced that the United Kingdom and Japan would jointly study the development of a jet engine demonstrator for the next generation of fighter jets. It remains to be seen, however, what Italy joining forces with Japan would mean for its participation in the Tempest project.
Czech Republic mulls order of 24 F-35A fighters
The Czech Republic is considering the replacement of its leased JAS-39 Gripen with an order for 24 Lockheed Martin F-35A...
Spain to replace F-18 with latest generation Eurofighters
Spain has placed an order for 20 Eurofighter jets to replace the older combat aircraft fleet operated on the Canary Isla...
Germany’s first Chinook CH-47F heavy-lift helicopters could arrive from 2026
The first Chinook CH-47F heavy-lift helicopters could start arriving in 2026, Boeing executives said at the Berlin ILA A...
Lockheed Martin “sprinting” to finalize German F-35 contract
Lockheed Martin is working at top speed to finalize a F-35 deal for Germany, after Berlin decided on the fifth-generatio...