GCAP nations accelerate 6th‑gen fighter jet launch to 2035
The GCAP (Global Combat Air Programme) requires acceleration. France, Italy, and Japan made this decision during the recent ministers' meeting at the G7 summit in Naples. These countries assume the new 6th-generation fighter jet will take to the skies for the first time in 2035. It is expected to provide significant air superiority and surpass the capabilities of existing solutions. What do we know about the GCAP programme?
During the meeting between British Secretary of Defence John Haley, Italian Minister of Defence Guido Crosetto, and Japanese Minister of Defence Gen Nakatani, which took place at the G7 Defence Ministers' Summit in Naples, the latest progress within the GCAP programme was discussed.
The politicians also announced that a trilateral government organisation—GIGO (GCAP International Government Organization)—will be established by the end of 2024 to oversee the development of new-generation fighter jets. They also confirmed plans to finalise the first public-private contract by the following year, aiming to deploy the aircraft by 2035.
Fighter jet of the future programme
The GCAP programme is a response to the growing threats from China, Russia, and North Korea. The governments of the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan, along with their main industry partners, British BAE Systems, Italian Leonardo, and Japanese Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, have been engaged since December 2022 in developing fighter jets that combine the latest advances in technology (including stealth technology) and science, as well as the expertise and resources of their partners.
The new machines are expected to replace the retired Japanese F-2 fighter jets, developed collaboratively between Tokyo and Washington, as well as the Eurofighter Typhoon jets, which were created in cooperation with the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, and Germany. These jets are still in service with the Italian and British air forces. The countries do not rule out the possibility that other allies, including the United States, which is involved in its own 6th-generation fighter development programme, NGAD (Next Generation Air Dominance), may join the programme in the future.
The fighters being developed by France, Italy, and Japan under the GCAP programme differ somewhat from what the Americans are focusing on in NGAD. Analysts primarily point out the timeline. In the case of the GCAP programme, the new fighter jet is expected to take flight for the first time in 2035, whereas in the American programme, it is planned for 2030, five years earlier. Additionally, the aircraft being developed by the French, Japanese, and Italians are expected to be slightly larger, have a greater range, and feature two engines. These characteristics cater to the specific nature of combat in their regions.
Participants in the GCAP programme believe that the developed fighter jet will be one of the most advanced, interoperable, flexible, and connected fighters in service. According to the announcements, it will be equipped with an intelligent weapon system, a software-driven interactive cockpit, integrated sensors, and a powerful next-generation radar capable of providing 10,000 times more data than current systems, giving it a significant edge in combat.
