Sixth-generation fighter jet: new £4.6 billion contract signed. It runs for 18 months
The signing comes hot on the heels of the British government’s approval of the defence investment programme. As part of the package, London has allocated £8.6 billion in funding to take the project forward over the four-year period from 2026–27 to 2029–30
by Andrea Carli and Celestina Dominelli
The new international contract for the three-way joint venture between Leonardo, BAE and JAEIC for the GCAP sixth-generation fighter programme involving Italia, the United Kingdom and Japan has been signed. The second joint international contract for the Global Combat Air Programme was awarded on Friday 3 July, as Il Sole 24 Ore.com is able to reveal in advance. This is a programme to develop a new-generation fighter aircraft involving collaboration between Italia, Japan and the UK.
The contract, worth £4.6 billion, will enable the completion of the advanced concept definition and programme evaluation phase, as well as the continuation of joint detailed design and development. The agreement, which will run for 18 months, was awarded by the GCAP Agency – the body managing the programme on behalf of the three governments – to Edgewing, the tri-national prime contractor and design authority for the GCAP aircraft. Jointly funded by the three nations, the contract will drive forward the next phase of key design and engineering activities. This is the second joint international contract awarded by the GCAP Agency to Edgewing, following the initial £686 million contract signed in April 2026.
“I am delighted to sign this international contract on behalf of the three GCAP nations: Italia, Japan and the United Kingdom. ‘This,’ explained Masami Oka, Chief Executive of the GCAP Agency, ‘will enable the GCAP Agency and Edgewing to continue making significant progress across all areas of the project’s implementation. The programme is vital for global security and for countering future threats, whilst enabling the sharing of costs and technological benefits and the creation of highly skilled jobs in all three countries. “Thanks to this long-term funding, the future of GCAP is more secure than ever. I am excited about the results we will achieve over the next 18 months and the opportunities we will be able to create to further grow the programme.”
“This contract is a testament to the trust placed in us by all three nations and by our partners at the GCAP Agency; a trust reinforced by the rapid progress made under the first international contract,” commented Marco Zoff, Chief Executive of Edgewing. “This contract demonstrates the trust placed in us by all three nations and by our partners at the GCAP Agency; a trust reinforced by the rapid progress made under the first international contract,” This momentum is fuelled by our innovative model of collaboration in the defence sector: this is the first time that three countries have come together to create a single engineering ‘prime contractor’, operating on behalf of their respective national industries and liaising with a single client with full decision-making powers. As we step up our activities and move into the next phase of the programme, I look back with pride on the progress already made and forward with confidence to the future that lies ahead.’
. This momentum is fuelled by our innovative model of collaboration in the defence sector: this is the first time that three countries have come together to create a single engineering *prime contractor*, operating on behalf of their respective national industries and liaising with a single client with full decision-making powers. As we step up our activities and move into the next phase of the programme, I look back with pride on the progress already made and look forward with confidence to the future that lies ahead.”
