Britain signs pact with Japan to co-operate on outer space

The United Kingdom and Japan on Friday agreed to co-operate on outer space as the countries strengthen their relationship on defense and developing a new combat aircraft.

"Japan is a valued international partner of the UK,” Sir Mike Wigston, Britain's Air Chief Marshal, said in a statement. “We share common values and strategic interests, and we are working ever more closely in the face of global security challenges.”

Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, UK’s Chief of the Air Staff (left) and General Shunji Izutsu, Japan’s Chief of Staff of the Koku-Kietai (Photo: Royal Air Force)

He said the collaboration between the two countries is underpinned by the U.K. Space Command and the Koku-Jietai, as the Japan Air Self-Defense Force is known.

The countries pledged to combine their efforts on knowledge-sharing, training exercises and personnel exchanges.

The agreement on outer space follows a defense pact the countries signed in January that elaborates on the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) initiated last year.