UK actively pursues FCAS subsystem partnership with Japan

23rd March 2021 - 17:45 GMT | by Tim Martin in London

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The UK could be set to secure a subsystems partnership with Japan as it explores new FCAS industrial opportunities. (Photo: UK MoD/Crown Copyright)

New international partners could be added to the UK's FCAS effort, as plans to secure a subsystems partnership with Japan are revealed.

The UK MoD has given a clear hint that it wants to expand Future Combat Air System (FCAS) industrial base partnerships with international partners, confirming in the newly released Defence and Security Industrial Strategy (DSIS) that ‘subsystem co-operation opportunities’ are being explored with Japan.

Should a partnership be secured, Japan would join Sweden and Italy as part of the UK-led effort, which is primarily designed to replace the RAF Eurofighter Typhoon fleet from 2035.

The DSIS does not indicate which subsystems Japan could manufacture or support specifically, but options on offer look to be somewhat limited because a …