Sixth-generation fighter, first international contract signed. In the long term it will replace the Eurofighter

An important step towards the sixth-generation fighter. On Thursday, 2 April, the first international contract for the project involving Italia, Japan and the UK was signed. The agency that manages the programme for the three countries awarded Edgewing - a joint venture between Leonardo, Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement and Bae Systems - a £686 million contract 'that finances key design and engineering activities and enables the trilateral partnership to consolidate its momentum and accelerate the completion schedule,' reports a note. The international contract will run until 30 June 2026. The Gcap programme launched in 2022 aims at the entry into service of the new combat aircraft, with pilot on board, by 2035. In the long term, the sixth-generation fighter will take the place of the Eurofighter.

"The speed with which Edgewing and the Gcap Agency have increased their operations has been made possible by our shared goal and the strength of the collaboration," was the comment of joint venture CEO Marco Zoff. "This contract represents an important moment for Gcap, as activities previously carried out under the separate contracts of the three nations will now be carried out as part of a fully structured international programme," emphasised Gcap Agency CEO Masami Oka.

For Italia, in addition to Leonardo, MBDA Italia, Avio Aero, Elettronica and a network of SMEs, universities and research centres are also involved, with expected spin-offs for the entire national aerospace industry and high-tech sectors.

Edgewing is the lead company of the Global Combat Air Programme, responsible for the design and development of the next-generation combat aircraft. The company is the design authority for the aircraft throughout its lifetime. BAE Systems (UK), Leonardo (Italia) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Japan) are the custodians of their respective countries' combat air capabilities. As the lead systems integrators of the GCAP, they are responsible for bringing together people, skills, infrastructure and systems to lead the development and integration of the next-generation combat air system.

In February, Leonardo's CEO Roberto Cingolani commented on speculation that Germany might look at the Gcap or that the UK revising its defence budgets might have difficulties in continuing the programme it is developing with Italia and Japan. The possibility of Germany exiting the programme with France and Spain for the sixth-generation Fcas - Future Combat Air System fighter, he explained, currently "does not touch" the Gcap programme which "goes ahead" as planned. But, he added, 'it is obvious that if there should be confirmation of difficulties from our partners or even requests for confirmation to enter, these will be analysed'.