Photo/Illutration A model of the next-generation fighter jet to be jointly developed by Japan, Britain and Italy is displayed at Makuhari Messe in Chiba on March 15. (Nobuhiko Tajima)

LONDON--Britain said on Friday it had allocated over $800 million for the next phase of its fighter jet program with Japan and Italy, with a major contract awarded to BAE Systems.

The three countries agreed to join forces on the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) to develop a next-generation fighter jet in December, Japan’s first major industrial defense collaboration beyond the United States since World War II.

“The next tranche of funding for future combat air will help fuse the combined technologies and expertise we have with our international partners--both in Europe and the Pacific--to deliver this world-leading fighter jet by 2035,” British defense minister Ben Wallace said.

BAE Systems was awarded the 656 million pound ($822 million) contract, which will also cover work involving project partners Leonardo UK, missile maker MBDA UK and Rolls-Royce UK, which is working on the engine.

Britain’s defense ministry said the contract would focus on developing technology for the jet, adding the investment formed part of 2 billion pounds up to 2025 that the government had committed to its fighter program before it partnered with Japan and Italy on GCAP.

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