GCAP fast-tracks next-gen fighter jet to rival US timeline
The GCAP (Global Combat Air Programme) needs to accelerate. France, Italy, and Japan made this decision during the recent ministers' meeting at the G7 summit in Naples. The countries believe that the new 6th-generation fighter jet will take to the skies for the first time in 2035, offering significant air superiority and surpassing the capabilities of existing solutions. What do we know about the GCAP program?
During a meeting between British Secretary of Defense John Haley, Italian Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto, and Japanese Minister of Defense Gen Nakatani at the G7 Defense Ministers' Summit in Naples, the latest progress within the GCAP program was discussed.
The politicians also announced that a trilateral government body—GIGO (GCAP International Government Organization)—will be established by the end of 2024 to oversee the development of new-generation fighter jets. They also confirmed plans to finalize the first public-private contract by next year, aiming to deploy the aircraft by 2035.
Fighter jet of the future program
The GCAP program is a response to growing threats from China, Russia, and North Korea. The governments of the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan, along with their main industry partners—British BAE Systems, Italian Leonardo, and Japanese Mitsubishi Heavy Industries—have been engaged since December 2022 in developing fighter jets that incorporate the latest advances in technology, including stealth, and science, as well as the expertise and resources of their partners.
The new aircraft are expected to replace the retired Japanese F-2 fighter jets, developed in collaboration with Tokyo and Washington, and the Eurofighter Typhoon jets created in cooperation with the United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, and Germany. The Eurofighter Typhoons are still in service with the Italian and British air forces. The countries have not ruled out the possibility that other allies, including the United States, which is involved in its own 6th-generation fighter development program, NGAD (Next Generation Air Dominance), might join the program.
The fighters being developed by France, Italy, and Japan under the GCAP program differ somewhat from what the United States is focusing on in the NGAD. Analysts primarily point out the timeline. For the GCAP program, the new fighter jet is expected to take flight in 2035, while the American program aims for 2030, five years earlier. Additionally, the aircraft being developed by the French, Japanese, and Italians are expected to be slightly larger, have a greater range, and feature two engines. These characteristics cater to the specific combat needs of their regions.
Participants in the GCAP program believe that their fighter jet will be one of the most advanced, interoperable, flexible, and connected fighters in service. According to their announcements, it will be equipped with an intelligent weapon system, a software-driven interactive cockpit, integrated sensors, and a powerful next-generation radar capable of providing 10,000 times more data than current systems, giving it a significant edge in combat.
