BAE Systems, Italy’s Leonardo and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co. (JAIEC), operating through their joint venture Edgewing, have been awarded a £4.6 billion ($6.1 billion) contract to continue developing the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a sixth-generation stealth fighter expected to enter service by 2035. 0
The contract, jointly funded by the governments of the United Kingdom, Italy and Japan, will finance the next 18 months of advanced design, engineering and testing. It follows an initial £686 million contract signed earlier this year and marks a major milestone for one of the world’s most ambitious military aviation projects.
The future aircraft will feature advanced stealth technology, artificial intelligence, next-generation sensors, powerful networking capabilities and the ability to operate alongside autonomous drones. It is intended to replace aircraft such as the Eurofighter Typhoon while providing a significant leap in combat capability.
The project gained fresh momentum after the UK government committed £8.6 billion over the next four years to support GCAP as part of its new Defence Investment Plan. Officials say the programme will sustain thousands of highly skilled jobs across the three partner nations while strengthening their long-term defence industries.
Industry leaders believe the programme could eventually expand beyond its founding members. Germany, Canada and Saudi Arabia have all expressed interest in joining the initiative, although any future expansion would require the unanimous approval of the United Kingdom, Italy and Japan.
The GCAP fighter is expected to make its operational debut in 2035 and is widely regarded as one of the most advanced combat aircraft currently under development, combining cutting-edge digital technologies with multinational industrial cooperation.
