Jessica O'ConnorThousands of highly skilled jobs in the UK are being supported through Britain’s growing defence partnership with Japan, new figures revealed, as Defence Secretary John Healey visits Tokyo.
The Ministry of Defence confirmed that the Future Combat Air System programme, at the centre of the trilateral Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) with Japan and Italy, now sustains more than 4,500 jobs across the UK.
Roles are concentrated in regions including the South West, North West and Scotland, highlighting the nationwide economic footprint of international defence collaboration.
Industry spending on research and development linked to the programme has also risen by more than £100m to over £700m, underscoring how international partnerships are stimulating investment and creating skilled employment opportunities in Britain.
Defence Secretary John Healey said the partnership is central to both national security and economic growth,
He added: “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.
“These jobs and investments show how defence collaboration drives growth at home while strengthening security abroad.”
His visit comes as HMS Prince of Wales and the Carrier Strike Group arrived in Tokyo as part of Operation Highmast, the UK’s largest naval deployment in a generation.
Nearly 4,000 personnel are involved in the mission, which is engaging with 30 countries and demonstrating British military and industrial capability on a global stage.
