The agency overseeing the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) has awarded its first joint international contract to Edgewing, a tri-national industrial venture by Italy, the UK, and Japan to lead the development of a next-generation combat aircraft.
Valued at 686 million pounds ($908 million), the contract covers initial design and engineering work and marks a step toward aligning industrial roles across the three partner countries.
Edgewing brings together BAE Systems, Leonardo, and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement.
Launched last year, the joint venture is responsible for coordinating and advancing the aircraft’s development framework.
“This contract is an important moment for GCAP, as activities previously conducted under three nations’ contracts will now be carried out as part of a fully-fledged international program,” said Masami Oka, GCAP Agency Chief Executive.
‘System of Systems’
GCAP aims to deliver a next-generation combat aircraft for the three partner nations by 2035.
Conceived as part of a broader “system of systems,” the aircraft will integrate crewed and uncrewed assets across air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains.
The aircraft is expected to rely on a digital architecture that enables coordinated operations with other platforms.
This includes data sharing through high-capacity, secure networks and decision-support systems supported by AI and advanced computing.
The program also supports long-term industrial cooperation between national defense sectors and their supply chains, and includes participation from universities, research centers, small and medium-sized enterprises, and startups.
Italy’s Leonardo stated that “GCAP is one of the most challenging and futuristic programs in the Aerospace, Defence and Security sector, ensuring technological sovereignty for generations to come.”
