Thriving Japan defence partnership boosting UK jobs and funding

New figures reveal hundreds of thousands of kilos of funding and hundreds of British jobs created via the UK-Japan defence relationship as Defence Secretary John Healey visits Japan for the primary time. 

The Defence Secretary introduced at this time (29 August) that the UK’s Future Combat Air System programme helps over 4,500 British jobs throughout the UK, together with within the South West, North West and Scotland. At the core of the programme is the trilateral Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) partnership between the UK, Japan and Italy to ship a next-generation fight plane. Industry analysis and improvement spending has additionally elevated by greater than £100 million to over £700 million, demonstrating how worldwide partnerships drive UK funding and expert employment. 

The vital progress made by GCAP was acknowledged in a joint assertion issued following a gathering between the Defence Secretary and his Japanese counterpart, Minister Nakatani. The defence partnership between the UK and Japan instantly helps the federal government’s Plan for Change, kickstarting financial development at residence via defence. 

The Defence Secretary additionally welcomed HMS Prince of Wales and the broader Carrier Strike Group into Tokyo and addressed its crew, strengthening the UK’s partnership with Japan and demonstrating the federal government’s dedication to holding Britain safe at residence and powerful overseas. 

The Royal Navy flagship is internet hosting the two-day Pacific Future Forum, a world summit bringing collectively defence and business leaders to assist form responses to the defence challenges going through the UK and its allies.  

Defence Secretary, John Healey MP stated:  

The UK-Japan partnership is likely one of the strongest within the Indo-Pacific and continues to ship actual advantages for each international locations via programmes like GCAP.  

It was a privilege to welcome the sailors, troopers and aviators on board HMS Prince of Wales to Japan and thank them for his or her tireless work on this deployment.  

The Carrier Strike Group helps the UK to strengthen alliances and cement new partnerships, making certain the UK is safe at residence and powerful overseas.

The go to by the Carrier Strike Group types a part of Operation Highmast, the UK’s largest naval deployment in a technology, beginning over 4 months in the past and involving practically 4,000 personnel throughout the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force. 

HMS Prince of Wales exemplifies British naval engineering excellence, carrying as much as 24 F-35B Lightning II fighter jets within the largest focus of fifth-generation plane ever deployed by the Royal Navy.  

Operation Highmast showcases the UK’s enduring dedication to safety of the Indo-Pacific and past, partaking with 30 international locations via workouts, operations, and visits throughout the Mediterranean, Middle East, South East Asia, Japan, Republic of Korea, and Australia. 

The go to builds on unprecedented navy cooperation between Britain and Japan, with the UK being the primary European accomplice to train bilaterally on Japanese soil via Exercise Vigilant Isles. RAF and Royal Navy personnel proceed to strengthen interoperability with Japanese forces, together with the historic first touchdown of a UK F-35B fighter on a Japanese ship earlier this month.