The first joint international contract has been signed under the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a multinational initiative carried out in cooperation between Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom. The GCAP Agency is acting on behalf of the three countries. It has reached an agreement with Edgewing, the industrial joint venture responsible for the program’s design and development activities. This agreement highlights the significant step taken in the GCAP project.
The contract, valued at £686 million, covers the aircraft’s design and engineering work. With this agreement, activities that were previously conducted separately within each country have now been unified under a single international program framework. In addition, the deal also aims to accelerate the design process and speed up the delivery schedule, ensuring GCAP objectives are met efficiently.
International Program Structure
Masami Oka, Chief Executive of the GCAP Agency, described the agreement as a milestone for the program. He stated that activities will now be carried out within a fully established international structure. Meanwhile, Edgewing CEO Marco Zoff emphasized that the rapid progress achieved in a short time is a result of strong cooperation between the partners and the GCAP framework.
Launched in 2022, GCAP aims to develop a next-generation stealth fighter aircraft equipped with advanced technologies. The program is also intended to support the national industries of the participating countries. Moreover, it will strengthen their capacity to respond to global threats as part of the ongoing GCAP efforts.
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Source: C4Defence-Leonardo
