Today: 7 October 2025
14 August 2023
3 mins read

Saudi Arabia pushes to join fighter jet project with UK, Italy and Japan

A senior UK defence source said: “The kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the UK’s strategic partnerships and UK defence is keen to deepen work on GCAP…reports Asian Lite News

Saudi Arabia has asked the UK, Japan and Italy to be made a full partner in their joint effort to build the next generation of fighter jets, in a move backed by the British government.

Companies from the UK, Japan and Italy are working together to build a new fighter jet and other systems such as drones under the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), also known as Tempest. The programme aims to deliver the first planes by 2035, a tight turnaround.

The addition of Saudi Arabia to the programme could be attractive for the partners because of the potential for sharing the billions of pounds in costs with one of the world’s biggest defence spenders, but may create tensions between them.

It could also add to already complex negotiations involving three governments and several companies from each country. In the UK the lead manufacturers are the engine maker Rolls-Royce; the tank and plane manufacturer BAE Systems, which has a significant-sized business in Saudi Arabia; and the UK arms of Italy’s Leonardo and the European missile-maker MBDA.

Adding Saudi Arabia would probably prove controversial because of criticisms of its record on human rights, including its involvement in the war in Yemen and the 2018 murder of the journalist Jamal Khashoggi. The murder led to the country and its crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, briefly being frozen out of international deals, but censure has since faded.

Within the trio of GCAP partners, the UK is understood to be leading the effort to add Saudi Arabia. However, Japanese officials have expressed firm opposition to the Saudis joining, according to the Financial Times, which first reported the request. Japan has been slowly loosening controls on weapons exports that were part of its legacy of pacifism after the second world war.

A senior UK defence source said: “The kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of the UK’s strategic partnerships and UK defence is keen to deepen work on GCAP. We see Saudi Arabia as a key partner in the fighter programme and we are working to ensure strong progress as soon as possible.”

Saudi Arabia has had its eye on joining Tempest for some time. It signed a memorandum of understanding with the UK in March saying that the countries would carry out a “partnering feasibility study” to look at a future combat air partnership and closer industrial collaboration. Its defence minister, Khalid bin Salman, tweeted that the deal meant the country would join the international jet effort, only for the UK to hurriedly say it was a separate agreement.

It is thought that the talks on Saudi Arabia joining formally are still at a relatively early stage, and are being handled in the UK by the Ministry of Defence. Any formal agreement would require the prime minister’s signoff.

Saudi Arabia has recently tried to make itself less reliant on the US for its weaponry and is trying to build up a domestic weapons industry, said one Middle East analyst.

On Monday the kingdom signed a deal with Turkish defence firm Baykar Tech to manufacture drones – which have played a prominent role in Ukraine’s defence against Russia – in Saudi Arabia.

Saudi Arabia spent the equivalent of 6.6% of its GDP on its military in 2021, compared with 2.2% for the UK, 1.5% for Italy and 1.1% for Japan, according to the World Bank.

ALSO READ-Saudi Embassy in Iran reopens after 7 years

Previous Story

Ministers face renewed pressure over boat crossings in UK

Next Story

70 Indians sue US govt for denying them H-1B visas

Latest from -Top News

OCTOBER 7: Stop the Violence Now, Says Guterres

Guterres recalled that “the attackers brutally killed more than 1,250 Israelis and foreign nationals….reports Asian Lite News UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres urged an immediate halt to the violence in Gaza, Israel, and

Piyush Goyal Heads to Doha for Trade Talks

During the visit, both sides are expected to discuss the proposed India–Qatar Free Trade Agreement (FTA)….reports Asian Lite News Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will travel to Doha, Qatar, on

Hamas Heads to Egypt for Gaza Talks

The negotiation will focus on the details of enacting the first phase of the plan…reports Asian Lite News A delegation from the Palestinian group Hamas arrived in Egypt on Sunday ahead of

Multi-alignment, upgraded

With US ties strained and China tense, New Delhi taps Europe’s harder edge for co-development, clean tech and strategic autonomy, writes Manoj Menon India is recalibrating its great-power hedging as frictions with
Go toTop

Don't Miss

Dubai Municipality wins RoSPA Award

Dubai Municipality won the RoSPA Inspiration Award for the Mini-Crisis

The latest model of Land Rover inspired by ‘No Time To Die’

Land Rover SV Bespoke has created a new Land Rover