UK Jet Tech: Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto has raised serious concerns about the UK’s unwillingness to fully share technology in a major international fighter jet program. He believes that Britain is holding back important information and resources in the Global Combat Air Programme, known as GCAP. This project is a partnership between Britain, Italy, and Japan, and its goal is to build a highly advanced fighter jet by the year 2035.
During an interview with Reuters, Crosetto stressed how important this programme is for the future of global defence. He explained that it is very important for all partners to work as equals and share technology when they are making investments together.
He said, “There is no longer anyone who can be considered first and second class and who wants to defend old legacies.”
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He also added, “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.”
While Crosetto did not give examples of what specific technologies the UK is keeping back, his message made it clear that he expects better cooperation from Britain.
Saudi Arabia’s Inclusion in GCAP
Crosetto also spoke about including Saudi Arabia in the programme. He believes that adding Saudi Arabia would help grow the defence project further and bring in extra resources and strength from outside Europe.
He said, “The choice of Japan was key in this respect, so would be Saudi Arabia, which has a need for technological growth and has more resources available than our three countries.” This shows that Italy is open to working with more countries, as long as they are willing to contribute and grow together.
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The GCAP project is already moving ahead. Last year, Britain, Italy, and Japan agreed to form a joint company to build the new fighter jet. Each country’s major defence firm will hold an equal share in the company BAE Systems from the UK, Leonardo from Italy, and Japan’s Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Centre (JAIEC) will each own 33.3%. The UK Ministry of Defence has not yet responded to Crosetto’s comments.
The message from Italy is strong and clear: if the GCAP project is to succeed, all partners must work with full trust and transparency.
