Question to the Ministry of Defence:

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much has been invested into the Global Combat Air Programme by (a) the UK, (b) Italy and (c) Japan.

The Global Combat Air Programme is the trilateral programme launched with Italy and Japan in December 2022 to develop the core aircraft that, for the UK, will be at the heart of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS). The March 2021 Defence Command Paper reaffirmed that that we will invest more than £2 billion in FCAS out to 2025, and we have spent over £1.4 billion so far. This is part of a budget of over £10 billion over the next 10 years. The amount that we ultimately invest will be determined by future decision points.

The amount that our international partners are investing is for them to comment on. Nevertheless, all three countries are making significant investments in our combat air sectors to pursue shared goals for a combat air programme in a spirit of equal partnership: delivering vital military capability, supporting national sovereignty and freedom of action/modification, strengthening and sustaining our combat air sectors and supporting prosperity. We will determine the cost-sharing arrangements ahead of the next phase, based on joint assessment of costs and national budgets.