· New figures reveal over
4,500 UK jobs and over £700 million industry investment supported
through the Future Combat Air System programme, contributing to
the government's Plan for Change.
· Defence Secretary meets
Japanese PM Ishiba and his counterpart, Minister Nakatani, and
welcomes the Carrier Strike Group to Tokyo, reinforcing Britain's
commitment to Indo-Pacific security.
· HMS Prince of Wales hosts
the Pacific Future Forum, showcasing defence innovation and
strengthening relationships with UK allies.
New figures reveal millions of pounds of investment and thousands
of British jobs created through the UK-Japan defence relationship
as Defence Secretary visits Japan for the first
time.
The Defence Secretary announced today (29 August) that the UK's
Future Combat Air System programme supports over 4,500 British
jobs across the UK, including in 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 deliver a next-generation combat aircraft. Industry
research and development spending has also increased by more than
£100 million to over £700 million, demonstrating how
international partnerships drive UK investment and skilled
employment.
The significant progress made by GCAP was acknowledged in a joint
statement issued following a meeting between the Defence
Secretary and his Japanese counterpart, Minister Nakatani. The
defence partnership between the UK and Japan directly supports
the government's Plan for Change, kickstarting economic growth at
home through defence.
The Defence Secretary also welcomed HMS Prince of Wales and the
wider Carrier Strike Group into Tokyo and addressed its crew,
strengthening the UK's partnership with Japan and demonstrating
the government's commitment to keeping Britain secure at home and
strong abroad.
The Royal Navy flagship is hosting the two-day Pacific Future
Forum, an international summit bringing together defence and
industry leaders to help shape responses to the defence
challenges facing the UK and its allies.
Defence Secretary, MP said:
“The UK-Japan partnership is one of the strongest in the
Indo-Pacific and continues to deliver real benefits for both
countries through programmes like GCAP.
“It was a privilege to welcome the sailors, soldiers and aviators
on board HMS Prince of Wales to Japan and thank them for their
tireless work on this deployment.
“The Carrier Strike Group helps the UK to strengthen alliances
and cement new partnerships, ensuring the UK is secure at home
and strong abroad.”
The visit by the Carrier Strike Group forms part of Operation
Highmast, the UK's largest naval deployment in a generation,
starting over four months ago and involving nearly 4,000
personnel across the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air
Force.
HMS Prince of Wales exemplifies British naval engineering
excellence, carrying up to 24 F-35B Lightning II fighter jets in
the largest concentration of fifth-generation aircraft ever
deployed by the Royal Navy.
Operation Highmast showcases the UK's enduring commitment to
security of the Indo-Pacific and beyond, engaging with 30
countries through exercises, operations, and visits across the
Mediterranean, Middle East, South East Asia, Japan, Republic of
Korea, and Australia.
The visit builds on unprecedented military cooperation between
Britain and Japan, with the UK being the first European partner
to exercise bilaterally on Japanese soil through Exercise
Vigilant Isles. RAF and Royal Navy personnel continue to
strengthen interoperability with Japanese forces, including the
historic first landing of a UK F-35B fighter on a Japanese ship
earlier this month.
