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The European Commission on Monday approved a deal between Britain’s BAE Systems, Italy’s Leonardo and the Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co to govern the production of a next-generation fighter jet.
Brussels concluded that the deal did not raise competition concerns in the bloc.
The joint venture, which will be based in the UK, will manage the design, development and delivery of the next-generation combat aircraft under the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).
Unveiled in 2022, GCAP aims to have aircraft flying by 2035, and is one of the most ambitious military programmes ever attempted, aimed at expanding each nation’s defence capabilities to address rising security threats from Russia and China.
