New 6th gen combat aircraft model unveiled at Farnborough air show

Since December 2022, the governments of the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan, along with key industry partners—British BAE Systems, Italian Leonardo, and Japanese Mitsubishi Heavy Industries—have been collaborating on the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) to create a 6th generation combat aircraft. The latest conceptual model was unveiled at the International Air Show in Farnborough, England.

"In the 18 months since launching the Global Combat Air Program, we have been working closely with our industrial partners in Italy and Japan under a cooperation agreement, as well as with the three governments, to understand and adapt the requirements for the new generation of combat aircraft," said Herman Claesen, Managing Director of Future Combat Air Systems at BAE Systems.

According to its creators, the 6th generation combat aircraft, expected to enter service in 2035, will be among the most advanced, interoperable, flexible, and connected fighters. It will feature an intelligent weapon system, a software-controlled interactive cockpit, integrated sensors, and a powerful next-generation radar capable of delivering 10,000 times more data than current systems, providing a significant edge in combat.

This latest conceptual model's more advanced design and greater wingspan highlight its improved aerodynamics. These differences underscore the distinctions between the aircraft developed under the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) and the NGAD (Next Generation Air Dominance) program, which aimed to build a successor to the American F-22 fighter.

The United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan aim to develop a slightly larger 6th-generation combat aircraft than the one developed by the United States. Given the countries ' geographical locations, this aircraft is expected to have a greater range and will most likely be equipped with two engines to meet the requirements for combat over the sea.