Despite being contentious, a UK-backed initiative could help divide the expense of building fighter jets and drones.
In a move supported by the British government, Saudi Arabia has requested that the UK, Japan, and Italy become full partners in their joint effort to develop the forthcoming generation of fighter jets.
Through the umbrella of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), commonly known as Tempest, businesses from the UK, Japan, and Italy are collaborating to create a new fighter plane as well as additional technologies like drones. By 2035, the program hopes to have the first aircraft in the air.
The possibility of splitting hundreds of millions of pounds in expenses with among the top spenders on defense could make Saudi Arabia’s inclusion in the program appealing to the partners, but it could also lead to problems between them.
Additionally, it might complicate already challenging talks involving three countries and several businesses from each nation. The leading manufacturers in the UK are the engine company Rolls-Royce, tanker and plane manufacturers BAE Systems, who has a substantial business in Saudi Arabia, the UK subsidiaries of the Italian missile producer Leonardo, and the European missile manufacturer MBDA.
Due to accusations of Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, notably its involvement in the Yemeni conflict and the 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, adding Saudi Arabia would likely be controversial. The murder caused the nation and its ruler, the crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, to be temporarily excluded from international agreements, although the backlash has since subsided.
The UK is reportedly leading the drive to include Saudi Arabia in the three of GCAP partners. However, reportedly to the Financial Times, who broke the initial news of the request, Japanese officials have firmly opposed the Saudis entering. Japan has been gradually relaxing restrictions on the transfer of weapons in fulfillment of its heritage of pacifism following the end of the Second World War.
A senior source in UK defense said: “UK defense is eager to intensify cooperation on GCAP as the monarchy of Saudi Arabia constitutes one of the UK’s important alliances. We view Saudi Arabia as an essential partner in the jet program and are trying to assure rapid, significant progress.
For a while now, Saudi Arabia has been considering joining Tempest. It and the UK agreed to conduct a “partnering feasibility study” to examine a potential combat air partnership and increased industrial cooperation when they inked an agreement of understanding in March. The UK quickly clarified that it was a separate arrangement when its defense a minister of state Khalid bin Salman, stated that the deal indicated that the nation would join an international jet operation.
The Ministry of Defence in the UK is in charge of the formal membership negotiations, which are believed to be still in an early stage. Saudi Arabia is interested in joining. The approval of the prime minister is required for any official agreement.
According to a Middle East specialist, Saudi Arabia is currently trying to reduce its reliance upon the US to supply its weapons and is attempting to develop a domestic arms industry.
A contract to produce drones in Saudi Arabia was inked on Monday by the kingdom and the Turkish defense company Baykar Tech. Drones were a key component of Ukraine’s defense against Russia.
Based on data from the World Bank, Saudi Arabia spent 6.6% of its GDP, compared to 2.2% for the United Kingdom, 1.5% for Italy, and 1.1% for Japan, on its military in 2021.