柏林 —— 一位政府官员周五表示，德国正考虑加入日本、英国和意大利共同开展的下一代战斗机联合开发项目。
Berlin – Germany is considering joining Japan, Britain and Italy in their joint project to develop a next-generation fighter jet, a government official suggested Friday.
此前一天，英国首相安迪·伯纳姆告诉德国总理弗里德里希·默茨，英国对德国参与“全球战斗航空计划”（GCAP）持积极态度。
This came after British Prime Minister Andy Burnham told German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Thursday that Britain is positive on Germany’s participation in the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP).
德国政府第一副发言人斯特芬·迈耶周五在例行记者会上表示，德方对伯纳姆的观点持非常欢迎的态度。
Steffen Meyer, first deputy spokesperson for the German government, said at a regular news conference Friday that the country took Burnham’s view very favorably.
与此同时，迈耶指出，德国打算寻求一种欧洲方式来解决下一代战斗机的开发问题，表明该国计划在各种讨论中维护本国利益。
Meanwhile, Meyer noted that Germany intends to pursue a European way of finding a solution to the development of a next-generation fighter jet, indicating that the country plans to assert its national interest during various discussions.
自从竞争对手的法德战斗机项目于6月破裂后，关于GCAP创始国可能向德国敞开大门的猜测与日俱增。
There has been mounting speculation that the founding GCAP countries could open the door to Germany after a rival Franco-German fighter program collapsed in June.
伯纳姆表示，这一想法“是我们在未来一段时间内寻求推进的，将与我们的其他合作伙伴意大利和日本共同努力。”GCAP的设立允许不同程度的参与，并于7月首次扩大，当时加拿大以观察员身份加入，这可能为未来更深层次的参与铺平道路。沙特阿拉伯长期以来也被视为另一个有意加入的国家。
Burnham said the idea “is something that we seek to progress in the coming period, working with our other partners, Italy and Japan.”GCAP has been set up to allow differing levels of involvement and it expanded for the first time in July, when Canada signed on as an observer, which could pave the way for deeper engagement in the future. Saudi Arabia has long been touted as another country interested in joining.
一些国防专家认为，鉴于德国不断增长的军费预算，以及它已经与英国和意大利合作研发“台风”战斗机，德国是一个合适的合作伙伴。
Germany is viewed by some defense experts as a suitable partner given its growing military budget and the fact that it already works on the Eurofighter Typhoon with the U.K. and Italy.
从英国的角度来看，在其军费预算紧张之际增加另一个合作伙伴国将有助于分担成本负担，但日本可能需要说服。意大利过去也曾表示，愿意接受新国家加入以帮助分担成本。
From Britain’s point of view, adding another country at a time when its military budget is under strain would help share the cost burden, but Japan may need convincing. Italy has also said in the past it would be open to new countries joining to help share the cost.
鉴于来自中国的安全威胁，以及日本计划于下一个十年中期开始退役F-2战斗机，日本对这一项目2035年的目标尤为关注。
Japan is particularly focused on the 2035 target for the program given the security threat from China and the fact that it is due to start retiring its F-2 fighters in the middle of the next decade.
一些高管警告称，增加新的合作伙伴可能会导致项目延迟。GCAP由BAE系统公司、莱昂纳多公司和三菱重工业公司共同主导。
Some executives have warned that adding new partners could lead to delays. The GCAP is being led by BAE Systems, Leonardo and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
周五，当被问及德国是否曾咨询加入GCAP一事时，防卫大臣小泉纯一郎拒绝发表评论，但提及了该集团对此问题的看法。
Asked Friday if Germany had inquired about joining GCAP, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi declined to comment, but noted the group’s thinking on the issue.
小泉在新闻发布会上表示：“首先，GCAP本身就是在促进日本、英国和意大利之间，以及盟友和伙伴国家之间合作的理念下发展起来的。至于与第三国的合作，我们打算与英国和意大利协调一致，确保GCAP成为一个更出色的项目。”
“To begin with, GCAP itself was developed with a view to fostering cooperation among Japan, the United Kingdom and Italy, as well as allies and partner nations,” Koizumi told a news conference. “Regarding cooperation with third countries, we intend to work in coordination with the U.K. and Italy to ensure that GCAP becomes an even better program.”