The United Kingdom, Japan and Italy have signed a contract worth more than £4.6 billion (approximately $6.14 billion) to develop a sixth-generation fighter aircraft.
The UK Ministry of Defence said in a statement on Friday that the contract agreement would help secure airspace and support the manufacturing sector in the United Kingdom.
The ministry confirmed that the agreement represents a key milestone in the Global Combat Air Programme, a leading collaborative project bringing together the United Kingdom, Japan and Italy to develop a sixth-generation fighter jet scheduled to enter service by 2035.