Sweden Intends to Participate in the Japan-UK-Italy Fighter Jet Project

Reference News Network, February 25 According to a report from the Japan Economic News website on February 17, Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson stated that the country has an "open attitude" towards participating in the joint development project of fighter jets with Japan and the UK. He acknowledged that this is an option and said, "We will decide by 2027 whether to develop independently or collaborate with other countries."

In an interview with the Japan Economic News, Jonson revealed that the Swedish military and government procurement departments plan to complete a report on the development of the next-generation fighter jet by March 2027, after which Parliament will make decisions on related policies.

The three countries, Japan, the UK, and Italy, reached an agreement in 2022 on the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), aiming to deploy a jointly developed sixth-generation fighter jet by 2035.

Jonson explained, "Our previous assessment indeed believed that the development direction of GCAP may not align with the operational needs of the Swedish Air Force, hence the decision to withdraw from the collaboration."

He added, "(Since then) we have been discussing the feasibility of joint development with defense contractors," emphasizing that participation in GCAP remains an option.

Sweden's movements will impact the global next-generation fighter jet development plans.

The first public-private partnership contract for GCAP, originally scheduled to be signed by the end of 2025, has been delayed, raising concerns that the goal of deploying the fighter jet by 2035 may not be achievable. There have also been rumors that financially strong Saudi Arabia is exploring the possibility of joining the project.

In Europe, Germany, France, and Spain are also advancing joint fighter jet development projects, but the ongoing power struggle between Germany and France has stalled the project's progress. According to the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Germany is also considering various options, such as collaborating with Sweden or joining GCAP.

In terms of defense cooperation, Sweden and Japan signed a defense equipment and technology transfer agreement at the end of 2022, which includes collaboration with GCAP, and both sides have been engaged in high-level consultations since then. On February 5, the two countries also issued a joint statement on the development of dual-use technologies. Jonson emphasized, "Expanding defense equipment cooperation into the aerospace and maritime fields will be beneficial for both countries." (Translation by Liu Lin)