Global Combat Air Programme
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.
| Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) | |
|---|---|
| General information | |
| Project for | Multirole fighter |
| National origin | Italy Japan United Kingdom |
| Manufacturer | BAE Systems Military Air & Information Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Leonardo S.p.A. |
| Issued by | Royal Air Force Japan Air Self-Defense Force Italian Air Force |
| Prototypes | Flight demonstrator expected 2027 |
| History | |
| Initiated | December 2022 |
| Expected | 2035 |
| Developed from | BAE Systems Tempest, Mitsubishi F-X |
| Predecessors | Eurofighter Typhoon, Mitsubishi F-2 |
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. This was cemented with a treaty signed in December 2023 in Japan.
Under the current timeline, the programme expects to begin the formal development phase from 2025, with a demonstrator to fly in 2027, and production aircraft to begin entering service from 2035.