LONDON, Sept 13 (Reuters) - Italy was committed to fund its share of the Italian-Anglo-Japanese fighter jet programme for 15 years, long enough for the aircraft to enter service, the director for the project at the Italian Ministry of Defence said on Wednesday.
The next-generation fighter project, named GCAP, is expected to cost tens of billions of dollars, but the three partners have not yet finalised how the budget, or the work will be split.
The lead contractors - Britain's BAE Systems (BAES.L), Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (7011.T), and Italy's Leonardo (LDOF.MI) - said on Tuesday they had agreed the next steps to deliver the concept phase of the aircraft.
The three, along with their respective defence ministries, appeared together at London's DSEI arms fair to discuss the project, which aims to produce the fighter jet by 2035.
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UPDATE
You’re probably wondering
Q: “ So the article says they can’t agree on the budgets and haven’t produced a fighter in 15 years? ”
A: Pretty much, but they are all on the same page they want a jet. Found and update where 1 hold up was “work visas” but if your MoD are approving this and want it done then shouldn’t TSC and Work Visas be expedited…..?