The three nations of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) – the United Kingdom, Italy and Japan – have unveiled a new concept model of their next-generation fighter jet at the Farnborough International Airshow 2024.
Exhibiting together for the first time, GCAP partners and their key industrial collaborators, BAE Systems (UK), Leonardo (Italy) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Japan), showcased the significant advances made in the development of a true next-generation combat aircraft.
The new concept model on display in Hall 5 features an evolved design with a larger wingspan to improve the aircraft’s aerodynamics.
Herman Claesen, Managing Director of Future Combat Air Systems at BAE Systems, highlighted the progress made since the programme began:
“In the 18 months since the launch of the Global Combat Air program, we have worked closely with our industrial partners in Italy and Japan under the Collaboration Agreement, as well as with the three governments, to understand and align the requirements for a next-generation combat aircraft. The new model, unveiled at the Farnborough International Airshow, demonstrates significant progress in the design and conceptualization of this future combat aircraft. We will continue to test and evolve the design as we move closer to the next phase of the program.”
Guglielmo Maviglia, Leonardo’s Global Air Combat Program Manager, highlighted the program’s fast pace and high commitment:
“The programme is moving forward at an extraordinary pace, building on strong foundations and industrial heritage in each country and on a partnership led by governments. Since the signing of the treaty in December 2023, the programme has benefited from a strong commitment from each partner. Each brings different, but complementary, qualities and requirements. We are now working closely together to exchange knowledge, address common challenges and achieve common goals.”
Hitoshi Shiraishi, Senior Fellow at Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, expressed the benefits of the collaboration:
“MHI sees each project as a valuable opportunity to deepen our knowledge. In particular, as GCAP is a joint development programme between Japan, the UK and Italy, we hope to achieve better results and deeper insights than ever before by combining the different cultures, experiences and knowledge of the three industries involved.”
The fighter jet, scheduled to enter service by 2035, will be one of the most advanced, interoperable, adaptable and connected fighter jets in the world, featuring an intelligent weapons system, a software-driven interactive cockpit, integrated sensors and next-generation radar providing significantly more data than current systems.
GCAP is of strategic importance as it combines the efforts of the UK, Italy and Japan to deliver a next-generation air combat capability. The programme aims to enhance the security, political and economic prosperity of each nation, employing tens of thousands of skilled people and advancing industrial skills and technologies.
The next-generation fighter aircraft developed by GCAP will be known as Tempest in the UK. The main systems integrators are BAE Systems (UK), Leonardo (Italy) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Japan), with additional contributions from companies including Avio Aero, ELT Group, IHI, MBDA, Mitsubishi Electric and Rolls-Royce.
History of the Global Air Combat Program
The Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) is a multinational initiative involving the United Kingdom, Japan and Italy, aimed at developing a sixth-generation stealth fighter. The programme aims to replace the Eurofighter Typhoon and Mitsubishi F-2 currently used by the Royal Air Force, the Italian Air Force and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.
In December 2022, Japan, the United Kingdom, and Italy announced the merger of their sixth-generation fighter projects into the unified GCAP. This agreement was formalized by a treaty in December 2023. The timeline set by the agreement includes the start of formal development in 2025, a demonstration flight in 2027, and the entry into service of production aircraft by 2035.
Below is an early concept model of the aircraft, you can see a significant difference from the one above.
GCAP involves around 9,000 people and over 1,000 suppliers from the three partner countries, with significant participation from the UK, Italy and Japan. The programme aims to strengthen the economic growth and military capabilities of these countries. BAE Systems, one of the lead companies in the project, has 1,000 apprentices and graduates working on GCAP.
The GCAP builds on previous efforts, such as the UK’s Tempest program, unveiled in 2018 to develop a new fighter jet to replace the RAF’s Eurofighter Typhoons. Italy joined the Tempest program later, while Sweden has participated in related technological advances. Japan’s Mitsubishi FX program, which evolved from the Mitsubishi X-2 Shinshin, is also a pillar of the GCAP.
In 2022, the UK and Japan agreed to jointly develop a new fighter engine and explore future air combat technologies, paving the way for the GCAP. The collaboration is structured so that each country will lead different aspects of the project. By 2024, detailed development and cost-sharing plans are expected to be clarified, with production starting around 2030 and the first operational aircraft by 2035.
Rumors have circulated about the expansion of GCAP to include new members such as Sweden, Saudi Arabia, and Germany. However, each potential addition presents unique challenges. Saudi Arabia’s interest has been resisted by Japan, while Sweden has delayed its decision to join the organization until 2031. Germany’s participation remains uncertain due to challenges it faces with its own defense program. In December 2023, the GCAP International Governmental Organization (GIGO) was established to manage the program, with Japan providing the first CEO and Italy the first head of the commercial entity.
In short, GCAP represents a massive collaborative effort to develop next-generation air combat capabilities, integrating the best technological and industrial expertise from the UK, Japan and Italy.
