Britain may soon have a new fighter jet to envy, or at least that’s the plan.
The UK’s partnership with Japan and Italy to build a sixth-generation military plane is the most ambitious feature of an otherwise cautious national defence strategy. It also has the potential to restore our standing as a military power capable of standing up to Russia and China.
A mock-up of the as yet unnamed platform was on display at Farnborough Air Show this week, offering a preview of what will become Britain’s first crewed supersonic aircraft in 40 years.
Shorts
The UK’s delayed and divisive Defence Investment Plan, announced last month, committed more than £8bn to the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) over the next four years, with a £4.6bn development contract awarded to Edgewing, the venture behind the aircraft.
