New supersonic stealth fighter: UK, Japan & Italy sign Global Combat Air Programme Treaty

The UK, Japanese, and Italian governments have signed an international treaty to create an innovative stealth fighter with supersonic capability and state-of-the-art technology as part of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).

This treaty marks a crucial stage of the GCAP, as it establishes the GCAP International Government Organisation (GIGO) by the respective governments. It is also a significant agreement in the shared design and delivery of a next-generation fighter aircraft expected to be ready by 2035.

MBDA, as a key industrial contributor to the GCAP programme’s effects domain, has welcomed the international treaty signed by the three GCAP governments.

The treaty also confirmed that the UK will host the GCAP government headquarters (HQ), with the first CEO from Japan. The HQ’s responsibilities will include delivering vital military capability, strengthening each country’s Combat Air industrial capability and ensuring value for money.

In addition, a future joint business construct will be headquartered in the UK, overseeing support and timely delivery of the programme, including the 2035 in-service date of the combat aircraft known as Tempest in the UK.

Discussions on the future joint industrial construct to deliver GCAP are ongoing, with representatives from Leonardo, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and BAE Systems having recently met in Tokyo.

In September this year, the industry partners announced a Collaboration Agreement to support ongoing discussions on long-term working arrangements and the maturity of the concept and capability requirements for the next-generation combat aircraft.

Ministers from Italy, Japan, and the UK signed the treaty just 12 months after the formation of the GCAP programme, reinforcing its momentum and strong trilateral cooperation amongst partners and highlighting the positive progress in developing this next-generation fighter jet. The joint development phase of the programme is due to launch in 2025.

The national defence industry leaders on the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) – Leonardo (Italy), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Japan) and BAE Systems (UK) – have warmly welcomed the signing of the Convention on the Establishment of the “Global Combat Air Programme – GCAP International Government Organisation (the GIGO)” by their respective governments.

Ministers from Italy, Japan and UK signed the treaty, which marks an important agreement in the shared design and development of a next generation fighter aircraft by 2035. The agreement, signed just 12 months since the formation of the GCAP programme, reinforces its momentum and the strong trilateral cooperation amongst the partners.

Discussions on the future joint industrial construct to deliver GCAP are continuing, with representatives from Leonardo, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and BAE Systems meeting recently in Tokyo. In September this year, the industry partners announced a Collaboration Agreement to support ongoing discussions on long-term working arrangements and maturity of the concept and capability requirements for the next generation combat aircraft.

„We welcome the agreement signed by the governments of Italy, Japan and the UK today, and the continued progress with our industrial partners to advance the future joint business construct that will enable us to deliver the next generation combat aircraft. We’re proud to represent the UK on this exciting and forward-leaning partnership, which will deliver a crucial and affordable defence capability and help to maintain our sovereign combat air skills in the UK,“ said Herman Claesen, Managing Director, Future Combat Air Systems, BAE Systems’ Air sector.

„We welcome the announcement made by our governments today and we are proud to be part of the GCAP programme along with our partners. GCAP, which will see the development of an innovative next generation core platform underpinned by advanced technology, is charting a transformational new approach to international industrial collaboration. Through its ambition, the programme will maintain the competitiveness of our industries at an international level,“ said Guglielmo Maviglia, Director GCAP programme, Leonardo.

„We would like to very much welcome the signing of the treaty by the governments of Italy, the UK and Japan. In addition, following the conclusion of this treaty, we would like to work even more closely with our partners in Italy and the UK to promote GCAP. We will also work to ensure that GCAP contributes to strengthening Japan’s defence capabilities,“ stated Hitoshi Shiraishi, Senior Fellow, GCAP, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.

Today’s GCAP announcement also confirmed the joint GCAP government headquarters will be hosted in the UK and the first CEO will come from Japan. In addition, the future business construct will also be headquartered in the UK and the first leader will be from Italy.

GCAP is a hugely significant programme for the security, political and economic prosperity for Italy, Japan and UK and through effective knowledge and technology transfer will help to evolve and deliver important sovereign combat air capability in each nation for generations to come.

Today, there are around 9,000 people working on GCAP worldwide and more than 1,000 suppliers across the partner nations.