Agreement follows Canada's entry as the first GCAP observer and could give its aerospace industry a role in future combat air programs

Executives are expected to meet next week to discuss potential Airbus participation in the UK-Italy-Japan next-generation combat aircraft project

Edgewing’s Turin facility is the first of three engineering centers planned by the joint venture created by BAE Systems, Leonardo and JAIEC to design and develop the GCAP fighter

Berlin and London are discussing military requirements and industrial workshare, but German officials are also studying alternatives with Spain and Sweden

Aviation News – Japan’s strategic position in the western Pacific is driving the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) toward an unusually large and long-range fighter aircraft. The design is expected to prioritize range, endurance and weapons capacity, with estimated unit costs potentially reaching $600 million (€516 million). Japan’s geographic position and the vast distances of the western Pacific are central to the aircraft’s design requirements.

Key takeaways Het Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), een samenwerking tussen het Verenigd Koninkrijk, Italië en Japan, heeft een belangrijke mijlpaal bereikt met zijn eerste gezamenlijke internationale contract. Met een waarde van 686 miljoen pond (792 miljoen euro) benoemt deze overeenkomst Edgewing tot leider in het ontwerpen en ontwikkelen van de volgende generatie gevechtsvliegtuigen. Deze […]

The UK, Japan, and Italy have signed a $6.14 billion contract with the joint venture Edgewing to advance the design of a sixth-generation fighter jet as part of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). This aircraft, set to enter service by 2035, will integrate cutting-edge stealth technology, artificial intelligence, and advanced digital engineering to outperform existing systems like the Typhoon and F-35. The GCAP initiative, funded jointly by the three nations, aims to create a next-generation Royal Air Force capable of countering modern threats. The contract includes rigorous testing and establishes key requirements for the aircraft, which will work alongside autonomous systems. The project supports thousands of jobs in the UK and strengthens the country's sovereign industrial base. Additionally, the Defence Investment Plan allocates £8.6bn to ensure the RAF remains equipped with advanced capabilities. The collaboration highlights the nations' commitment to innovation in defense technology, combining their industrial and technological strengths to develop a highly capable combat air system.