The United Kingdom, Italy and Japan have awarded a £4.6 billion ($6.14 billion) contract to the joint venture Edgewing to develop the new Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) fighter jet. The U.K. government announced the agreement on Friday. The contract marks a major milestone for the three countries as they move the project into its next stage of development.

The announcement came only days after Britain committed £8.6 billion over four years to the GCAP program. The government made this funding decision on Tuesday after months of delay linked to pressure on its military budget. The investment will cover Britain's share of the costs for the three-nation project. The move also supports the country's wider plan to strengthen its defence capabilities.

Luke Pollard, Britain's minister for defence readiness, welcomed the agreement and highlighted its importance for the future of the country's air force. He said, “The Global Combat Air Program will give our pilots a cutting-edge stealth fighter jet. Signing this £4.6 billion contract alongside Italy and Japan is a major step forward towards delivery.”

The contract comes at an important time for the global defence industry. In June, a separate fighter jet project involving France and Germany collapsed. That development has changed the balance of defence partnerships in Europe. It has also increased the possibility that other countries could show interest in joining GCAP.

Three leading defence companies are working together on the project. BAE Systems from Britain, Leonardo from Italy and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries from Japan are developing the aircraft. The countries aim to introduce the sixth-generation stealth fighter by 2035. In the United Kingdom, the project is also known as Tempest.

The three partner nations expect GCAP to reduce the overall cost of developing such an advanced aircraft. They plan to share the financial burden, which could reach tens of billions of dollars over the life of the program. The partners also hope to attract international customers and increase exports once the aircraft enters production.

Italy has already shown interest in expanding the partnership. In June, the Italian defence minister said that allowing other countries to join GCAP would help spread the project's costs. Leonardo also stated that Germany would be a strong partner due to its expertise in defence technology. Saudi Arabia and Canada have also shown interest in the program.

Any decision to add new members will require approval from all three founding countries. Officials involved in the project have said there may be opportunities for other nations to join in the future. They also explained that new partners could participate at different levels depending on the agreement.

The companies leading the fighter jet program have created a joint venture called Edgewing. BAE Systems, Leonardo and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement each own a share in the company. Edgewing has its headquarters in Britain, while its chief executive officer is from Italy. The joint venture will oversee the development of the aircraft as the program moves forward.

BAE Systems has already shared some early details about the future fighter jet. The company said the new aircraft will be three to four metres longer than the Typhoon military jet. It will also have a longer operational range, allowing it to fly greater distances during missions.

The latest contract strengthens cooperation between the United Kingdom, Italy and Japan as they continue work on one of the world's most advanced fighter aircraft projects. With funding now in place and the development contract signed, the GCAP program has entered a new phase that brings the three nations closer to their goal of delivering the next-generation stealth fighter by 2035.