Verified UK Government (GOV.UK) press release, 3 July 2026
What it does not test. This does not establish that the aircraft will fly on schedule or that UK and Italian industry will hold a majority of eventual production work.
How this item counts. Towards autonomy: it changes who made the parts. Binding 2 of 3 (agreed or funded), scale 3 of 3 (large), Verified counts in full: weight +6 of 36 possible. GBP4.6B contracted to BAE/Leonardo(+Japan) JV for fighter design work. European Sovereignty Index