Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto has claimed that the United Kingdom is not fully sharing technologies with Italy and Japan in the joint Tempest fighter jet project under the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).
Crosetto emphasized that both Japan and Italy are partners in the programme and criticized what he described as London’s reluctance to dismantle “barriers of selfishness.” He argued that transparent technology sharing is essential for a serious defense partnership when all parties are making joint investments.
“There is no longer anyone who can be considered first and second class and who wants to defend old legacies. You have to break down some barriers of selfishness. Italy has broken them down totally, Japan almost totally. It seems to me that the UK is much more reluctant to do this, and that’s a mistake because selfishness is the worst enemy of nations,” Crosetto said.
Although he did not specify which technologies the UK may be withholding, his remarks underscore growing tension among the GCAP partners.
In response, a spokesperson for the UK Ministry of Defence stated:
“GCAP is a leading example of the strength of joint programmes. The technologies we are developing and the capabilities we are building together are at the cutting edge of science and engineering. Collectively, we will take to the skies one of the world’s most advanced fighter jets.”
Crosetto also expressed support for Saudi Arabia’s inclusion in the programme, noting its capacity for technological growth and significant financial resources. He compared its potential role to Japan’s, describing both countries as strategic additions to broaden defense collaboration beyond Europe.
In 2023, the UK, Italy, and Japan announced the establishment of a joint company to advance the GCAP project, building on the initial agreement reached in 2022. BAE Systems (UK), Leonardo (Italy), and Japan’s Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Center will each hold a 33.3% stake in the joint venture.
The Tempest is expected to enter Royal Air Force (RAF) service by 2035, replacing the capabilities of the Typhoon. According to the RAF, Tempest will integrate manned, unmanned, and optionally manned configurations with scalable autonomy, enabling onboard and offboard data processing and decision support for pilots in increasingly complex operational environments.
The RAF also emphasized that the aircraft’s speed, manoeuvrability, and payload will be critical, with design optimization focused on achieving “balanced survivability.”