With the future of U.S. Next Generation Air Superiority (NGAD) uncertain and China fast-tracking flight tests of sixth-generation aircraft, British lawmakers have announced plans for Global Combat Aviation to deliver next-generation fighters. We are calling for further scrutiny of the plan (GCAP). 2035.
The Global Combat Air Program is a trilateral partnership between the UK, Japan and Italy to design, manufacture and deliver the next generation of manned combat aircraft.
In a report on the three countries’ fighter jet projects published on January 14, British MPs said the GCAP needed to “change the model” to achieve its goal of producing a new generation of fighter jets by 2035. He argued that it was necessary to “break it.”
The development took place more than two weeks after China flew two prototype sixth-generation fighter jets on December 26. The tailless supersonic stealth aircraft are designated by military watchers as the Chengdu J-36 and Shenyang J-XX/J-50. They believe China could become the first country to deploy sixth-generation fighter jets.
The flight of China’s sixth-generation prototype is unlikely, especially as the U.S.’s NGAD next-generation aircraft program is being revisited due to staggering costs, and its future lies solely in the hands of the incoming Trump administration. This came as a big surprise to Western countries. .
GCAP partners appeared to be leading the 6th generation fighter race, especially until China’s 6th generation aircraft prototypes took to the skies. Nevertheless, flight tests of China’s sixth-generation aircraft have created a sense of urgency to get the aircraft’s development back on track. Indeed, the report urges the UK to be wary of making the same mistakes made with past multinational projects such as the Eurofighter Typhoon.
The report was released amid deep doubts about Britain’s involvement in the programme. For example, the future of the GCAP faced uncertainty last year after Keir Starmer’s UK Labor government launched a Strategic Defense Review and refused to join the GCAP in July 2024.
However, the British Prime Minister ultimately approved the production of the multibillion-pound fighter jet, allaying fears that the project would be shelved.
Nevertheless, the Labor government is likely to continue its work on the Next Generation Aircraft program amid increased scrutiny of the defense budget and financial constraints, with funding for the program cut in October 2024. It once again gave the impression that things are becoming increasingly difficult.
Against this backdrop, the latest report calls on governments and industry to maintain tight control over GCAP spending, given the increasing pressure on defense budgets. The report recommends considering multi-year funding – a process not normally used in UK defense planning – as it would “provide certainty and gain confidence from international partners”. .
MPs are calling for more disclosure about GCAP’s costs, noting it is expected to consume a “significant proportion of the UK’s defense budget”.
Lawmakers also said that the government-industry relationship would be “managed with care,” that work-sharing arrangements would “accommodate flexibility,” and that the three governments would encourage other countries to join the effort. We are asking for “tolerance” in terms of recognition.
However, they warn that these requests need to be carefully considered to avoid “jeopardizing the 2035 entry into service”.
As previously reported by EuroAsian Times, Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani revealed in November 2024 that Saudi Arabia is likely to join the GCAP. However, no official statement regarding Saudi participation in the program has been released.
To streamline efforts on the program, the report calls for the assimilation of workforce from the Eurofighter program. “Today’s report calls for a holistic approach to recruitment and retention to ensure the transition of existing Typhoon manufacturing employees to GCAP. Typhoon production in the UK is declining. This will be a challenge given the time it will take for Tempest to begin full-scale production.
Additionally, the committee calls for industry to be “empowered to make timely and binding decisions as the program progresses.” It notes that GCAP could be at risk if structural problems with the Eurofighter program recur.
Tan Deshi MP, chairman of the defense committee, said: “History has shown that costs can easily escalate, but the pressures on the UK’s defense budget mean there is no room for mismanagement.” ”.
“GCAP must break the mold of multilateral defense planning, which is often plagued by high costs and delays,” Deci said. “At this early stage, we have an opportunity to make choices that will put the program on the right track.”
GCAP is going well so far
The GCAP Alliance was established in 2022 by three countries with the aim of combining resources and expertise towards the development of 6th generation aircraft with advanced technology.
The trilateral group has previously said the aircraft would make its first flight by 2027 and be ready for service by 2035, a fairly ambitious schedule. In contrast, the future of America’s NGAD is currently uncertain, and the future of France, Germany, and Spain’s Combat Air System (FCAS) next-generation programs are progressing at a much slower pace than GCAP.
The three GCAP partners unveiled a new concept model of a future fighter jet at the Farnborough International Air Show last July. To improve the aerodynamics of future fighter jets, the concept model had a larger wingspan than previously published designs.
So far, the project is progressing well given that all three member states have ratified the GCAP Convention. The GCAP Treaty formally establishes the GCAP International Government Organization (GIGO), an organization tasked with managing the industrial framework, setting competency requirements, and overseeing development. Next generation fighter jet. Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Italy’s Leonardo, and Britain’s BAE Systems are leading the project as system integrators.
The fighter jets would be key components of the proposed combat air system, along with unmanned “attachments” such as drones, advanced sensors, and networked data systems powered by artificial intelligence and cloud computing.
According to GCAP partners, the aircraft will be one of the most advanced, networked, versatile and interoperable combat aircraft in the world. Thanks to software-driven interactive cockpits, integrated sensor arrays, intelligent weapons systems, and next-generation radar, next-generation fighters will provide more data and enhance situational awareness.
With state-of-the-art equipment, including sophisticated radar and possibly high-power microwave capabilities, this fighter is designed for long-range combat and Pacific operations.
The project is aimed at replacing the Eurofighter Typhoon used by the Italian Air Force and Royal Air Force, and the Mitsubishi F-2 used by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. Additionally, GCAP Group aims to gain export-oriented first-mover advantages in the 6th generation fighter aircraft market.
In fact, the latest report calls on governments to encourage exports. According to the newspaper, exports are essential to the program’s success and have the effect of lowering unit costs in partner countries.
However, one of the Committee’s concerns is the potential for inconsistency in making export decisions. British efforts to sell Eurofighters to Saudi Arabia and Turkey have been hampered by similar problems with Germany. The committee is also concerned that Japan’s lack of defense export expertise may pose “unique challenges” to the GCAP.
The report said the committee was “very encouraged” by Japan’s recognition of export amounts to GCAP partners. The MPs also called on the UK government to “continue to support and encourage Japan to make the necessary legislative and industrial progress” to ensure the jet’s export viability.
