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Starmer says UK warplane capability important in the middle of defence evaluation

Prime Minister Keir Starmer on Monday worried the value of Britain's. fighter jet ability, but stopped short of ensuring its. next generation combat air programme with Japan and Italy would. not be affected by a defence policy review.

It's important for me to put on record simply how crucial a. programme this is, Starmer stated at the opening day of the. Farnborough Airshow on Monday.

Britain, Japan and Italy signed an international treaty last. year to establish the Worldwide Combat Air Programme (GCAP) - merging. their different next-generation fighter efforts and going for a. brand-new airplane to enter service by 2035.

But there has been speculation that Starmer's new Labour. federal government might downgrade or scrap the programme after it. launched a defence evaluation, which will report next year.

Starmer noted the evaluation, however stated GCAP, also known as. Tempest in Britain, was making significant progress.

It is an important program and I understand that people in the. space will want to hear me say that, he said.

The defence secretary is holding a ministerial level. meeting (...) in relation to this since of the substantial. advantages here in this country.

Britain's biggest defence business BAE Systems and. aero-engineer Rolls-Royce are dealing with the. multibillion-pound task alongside Italy's Leonardo and. Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

Herman Claesen, BAE's managing director for the job,. stated the partners were working at speed towards the launch of. worldwide design and development next year.

He said development on the industrial construct for. establishing the platform was excellent. We are nearing completion on. the activities on that one too in preparedness for 2025, he told. reporters.

The programme could be opened up to others at a later stage,. Italy's defence minister said in January, with the likes of. Saudi Arabia possible competitors to join the project.

Leonardo's GCAP chief Guglielmo Maviglia said broadening the. partnership to Saudi Arabia was matter for the federal governments. involved.

What we can say is that we are establishing a construct that. is able and is open for other partners, he stated. Partners are. essential due to the fact that of course the export market matters for. the business case..

(source: Reuters)