Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to announce a collaboration between the UK, Italy and Japan to develop a new fighter jet that uses artificial intelligence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Sunak says the joint venture aims to create thousands of UK jobs and strengthen security ties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The nations will develop a next generation fighter – due to enter service in the mid-2030s – that will eventually replace the Typhoon jet. It is hoped the new Tempest jet will carry the latest weapons.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Work on developing it is already under way – with the aim to create a combat aircraft that will provide speed stealth, use advanced sensors and even artificial intelligence to assist the human pilot when they are overwhelmed, or under extreme stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It could also be flown without a pilot’s input if required and could be able to fire hypersonic missiles.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But building such a complex aircraft is extremely expensive – developing the F35 jet was the most expensive programme ever undertaken by the Pentagon – so Britain has been looking for partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Italy was already on board, and the addition of Japan is a significant move – at a time when Britain is building closer ties with allies in the Indo-Pacific region worried about a more assertive China.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Other countries could still join the programme. France, Germany and Spain are already working together on their own separate design – as is the United States.<\/p>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is set to announce a collaboration between the UK, Italy and Japan to develop a new fighter jet that uses artificial intelligence. Sunak says the joint … <\/p>\n