All articles tagged with #gcap
Japan, Italy and the UK awarded Edgewing an £4.6 billion 18‑month development contract to push the GCAP sixth‑generation fighter toward a 2035 delivery, following a stop‑gap funding and backed by an £8.6 billion Defence Investment Plan; Edgewing includes BAE Systems, Leonardo and JAIEC, with further contracts to tri‑nation teams for electronics and propulsion and the Farnborough airshow on the horizon.
Britain’s £8.6 billion four‑year commitment in the Defence Investment Plan unlocks a development contract for the tri‑nation GCAP fighter program with Edgewing ahead of the Farnborough airshow, following a three‑month stopgap. The DIP provides momentum toward a 2035 first flight, but funding gaps and political tensions remain as the UK still works to meet the program’s broader budget needs and the partners prepare additional awards for electronics and propulsion.
Canada’s defense minister said Ottawa is interested in learning more about GCAP and the Tempest after talks in Tokyo, signaling a potential observer role while Ottawa weighs a split fighter buy that could mix F-35s with another type. GCAP offers long range and heavy payload suited to Canada’s vast terrain, but industrial participation and development timelines pose hurdles, likely delaying entry beyond 2035; Saab Gripen E remains a contender, and an off-the-shelf purchase could be more probable in the near term given U.S.–Canada tensions.
Canada's defence minister said Ottawa is interested in learning more about the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) and could join as an observer, following talks with Japan's defence minister in Tokyo. GCAP is a tri-national effort by Italy, Japan and the UK to develop a sixth-generation fighter and related tech. The comments signal potential deeper involvement as Canada weighs its future fighter options, including a possible split buy between the F-35 and Saab Gripen.
Britain and Japan agreed to accelerate the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) as the centerpiece of a broader technology and security partnership, with plans to launch the next phase and sign an international contract by month-end. The collaboration links BAE Systems, Leonardo and a Japanese entity backed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to develop a next-generation fighter, while the wider accord covers AI, space, quantum computing and cybersecurity, plus industrial cooperation and multi-billion-pound investments in infrastructure, wind power and manufacturing, aiming to create tens of thousands of jobs.
Leonardo’s CEO warned that while Germany joining GCAP would boost capabilities and funding, it could delay the 2035 target after the FCAS collapse, as Europe considers options including more F-35s, joining an existing program, or launching a German-led fighter with Airbus, with Airbus reportedly eyeing a Saab link to avoid overlapping projects.
Japan's F-15Js will make a rare deployment to the UK, supporting strengthening UK-Japan military ties and showcasing joint efforts like the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). The deployment, involving aircraft from Japan's 201st and 203rd Tactical Fighter Squadrons, will include visits to the UK and Germany, and is part of broader international military cooperation amid ongoing upgrades to Japan's F-15J fleet.
A new joint venture named Edgewing has been formed by BAE Systems, Leonardo, and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement to develop the next-generation fighter jet for the GCAP program, aiming for an in-service date of 2035 and expected to operate beyond 2070, with operations spread across the UK, Italy, and Japan.
U.S. President Donald Trump reportedly offered Japan the F-47 sixth-generation stealth fighter, potentially providing Japan with an alternative to the delayed Global Combat Air Program (GCAP). Japan is also considering increasing its F-35 purchases or upgrading existing fighters, amid concerns about GCAP's timeline. The F-47, based on the NGAD program, could be a costlier but advanced option, strengthening U.S.-Japan military ties and offering Japan a chance to operate top-tier U.S. fighters. The decision hinges on cost, strategic needs, and the future of the GCAP initiative.
The UK, Japan, and Italy have formed a joint venture to develop the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) next-generation fighter jet, set to enter service in 2035. The venture, involving BAE Systems, Leonardo, and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement, will act as the design authority and prime contractor, with manufacturing subcontracted to various firms. The project aims to replace existing fighter jets in the UK, Italy, and Japan, and is expected to last beyond 2070. The JV will be headquartered in the UK, fostering collaboration among the partner nations.
The UK, Japan, and Italy's Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) has been approved by the UK Prime Minister, moving forward the development of a sixth-generation combat aircraft. This project, a merger of the UK's Tempest and Japan's F-X programs, aims to produce the world's second sixth-generation aircraft by 2035, following the US B-21 Raider. The GCAP, which faced uncertainty due to the UK's strategic defense review, is now progressing with ratifications from Japan and Italy expected soon. The aircraft will feature advanced technologies and aims to replace existing fighter jets in the partner countries.