| Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) | |
|---|---|
 Pre-2024 artist's impression of the aircraft | |
| General information | |
| Project for | Multirole fighter |
| National origin | United Kingdom Japan Italy |
| Manufacturer | BAE Systems Military Air & Information Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Leonardo S.p.A. |
| Designer | GCAP International Government Organisation (GIGO) |
| Issued by | Royal Air Force Japan Air Self-Defense Force Italian Air Force |
| Prototypes | Mitsubishi X-2 flown April 2016 - March 2018 'Excalibur' Flight-test aircraft expected in 2026 Flight demonstrator expected in 2027 |
| History | |
| Initiated | December 2022 |
| Expected | 2035 |
| Developed from | BAE Systems Tempest, Mitsubishi F-X |
| Predecessors | Eurofighter Typhoon, Mitsubishi F-2 |
The Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) is a multinational initiative led by the United Kingdom, Japan, and Italy to jointly develop a sixth-generation stealth fighter. The programme aims to replace the Eurofighter Typhoon in service with both the Royal Air Force (RAF) and the Italian Air Force, and the Mitsubishi F-2 in service with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.
On 9 December 2022, the governments of Japan, the United Kingdom, and Italy jointly announced that they would develop and deploy a common fighter jet, merging their previously separate sixth-generation projects: the United Kingdom-led BAE Systems Tempest developed with Italy, and the Japanese Mitsubishi F-X.[1][2] This was cemented with a treaty signed in December 2023 in Japan.[3]
There are around 9,000 people working on the programme worldwide, with 1,000 and more suppliers from across the three partner nations. 600 such suppliers are based in the UK, and 400 are based in Italy and Japan.[4] BAE systems alone have 1,000 apprentices and graduates working on GCAP.[5]
Under the current timeline, the programme expects to begin the formal development phase from 2025, with a demonstrator aircraft to fly in 2027, and production aircraft to begin entering service from 2035.[6]
- ^ Takahashi, Kosuke (9 December 2022). "Why Japan Chose Britain and Italy for Its F-X Fighter Program". The Diplomat. Archived from the original on 7 November 2023.
- ^ Chuter, Andrew (9 December 2022). "Move over, Tempest: Japan pact takes UK-Italy fighter plan 'global'". Defense News. Archived from the original on 11 December 2022. Retrieved 11 December 2022.
- ^ Neumann, Norbert (14 December 2023). "GCAP alliance signs treaty for sixth-generation fighter and establishes UK as programme HQ". Shephard Media. Archived from the original on 1 January 2024. Retrieved 15 December 2023.
- ^ www.baesystems.com https://www.baesystems.com/en/product/global-combat-air-programme. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
{{cite web}}: Missing or empty|title=(help) - ^ "Archived copy". www.baesystems.com. Archived from the original on 6 June 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Hemler, Jon (14 June 2023). "BRIEFER: Global Combat Air Program (GCAP)". Defense Security Monitor. Archived from the original on 19 December 2023. Retrieved 18 December 2023.