German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany could cooperate on the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), the next-generation fighter jet project Japan, the UK and Italy are jointly developing, during a summit with Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. Japanese officials reacted with alarm at the prospect of a fourth partner joining a program already running behind schedule.
"We can cooperate on fighter jets as well," Merz said at a joint announcement with Takaichi, referring to GCAP. One Japanese government figure responded: "This is going to be trouble."
Tokyo has watched Germany's intentions warily. The Air Self-Defense Force aims to field the aircraft in 2035, and a senior defense ministry official said Germany's entry would make it "inevitable that we will be asked to review the work-sharing arrangements decided by Japan, the UK and Italy." Japan wants to avoid further delay to a program that is already behind, the official said.
Britain, facing fiscal strain, expects Germany to share development costs and to lower unit prices by increasing the number of aircraft ordered. "If Britain wants them in, the story is that Britain should hand Germany part of its own share," the defense ministry official said. "Being told this at this timing is impossible."
Airbus executives join Merz's delegation
Merz's visit to Japan brought a delegation of about 30 German companies, which signed roughly 30 memorandums with Japanese counterparts in economic and advanced technology fields. Executives from Airbus, the European aircraft manufacturer, were among them.
The Financial Times reported that Airbus plans talks with BAE Systems, the British company leading GCAP, and that the German side is considering taking part in the program.
Participation as an "observer" — a status that involves sharing information with a view to purchasing the aircraft — would not affect Japan. Canada joined GCAP as an observer to consider a purchase.
Japan will now discuss with Britain and Italy what form of participation Merz's "cooperation" would take. The source does not specify when those talks would begin.
The alarm in Tokyo comes as cooperation with Germany takes on greater weight for Japan. With the Trump administration unsettling the international order, Tokyo sees growing value in working with a country that shares its values of freedom and the rule of law and that leads Europe.