What is GCAP?
GCAP (the Global Combat Air Programme) is a trilateral initiative launched in 2022 by the governments and industries of Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom. The programme will deliver an innovative stealth fighter, ready to face the threats of the future. It will provide decisive capability for its partner nations in Europe and the Indo‑Pacific, and contribute to wider global security. The programme offers other nations wider partnering and export opportunities.
GCAP is targeting an in‑service date of 2035.
GCAP is more than a next‑generation aircraft development: it is a strategic industrial collaboration that will sustain and grow sovereign combat air skills and capabilities across partner nations. The programme will create and secure tens of thousands of highly-skilled jobs across the UK, Italy and Japan.
What is Edgewing?
Edgewing is an international joint venture created by BAE Systems (UK), Leonardo (Italy), and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co. Ltd (JAIEC). The companies each retain 33.3% ownership of Edgewing.
Edgewing is the industrial lead for GCAP. As a company, it is fully accountable for the design and development of the GCAP combat aircraft. Edgewing will remain the design authority for the aircraft throughout its life; its work will include aircraft engineering, airworthiness and certification. Headquartered in Reading, UK, where work is already underway, Edgewing is currently in the process of establishing additional sites, one in each of the three partner countries, that will support the development of the aircraft.
It is the first time in history that responsibility for the technical design and development of a combat aircraft programme has been fully vested in a new international prime contractor. Marco Zoff, from Italy, is the first Edgewing CEO.
Is GCAP the same as Tempest?
They are related but different.
The Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) is the name of the international collaborative programme between the UK, Japan and Italy to deliver a common next generation crewed combat aircraft.
Tempest is the well-known name given by the UK for its next-generation combat aircraft, to be delivered by the Global Combat Air Programme. This name was launched in 2018 and stems from ‘Team Tempest’ (see below) however final decisions on naming the GCAP aircraft will be taken at a later stage of the programme and separately by each nation/air force.
Team Tempest is the name of a unique partnership between UK Ministry of Defence, BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Leonardo UK and MBDA UK, to develop the technology, skills and capability requirements of the UK’s next-generation combat air capability. Launched in 2018, the Team Tempest partners provide UK expertise into the Global Combat Air Programme, alongside their international partners, across key technology areas: advanced combat air systems and integration (BAE Systems); advanced power and propulsion systems (Rolls-Royce); advanced sensors, electronics and avionics (Leonardo UK); and advanced weapon systems (MBDA UK).
But isn’t there another FCAS?
Yes. All three GCAP partner nations have the same broad concept of the UK’s FCAS (Future Combat Air System), with the GCAP aircraft at the heart of a wider FCAS system-of-systems.
There is also the Franco German Spanish FCAS (sometimes called SCAF for its French language translation of FCAS: Systeme de Combat Aerien du Futur). This is another collaborative defence project to produce a next-generation combat air system. SCAF is completely separate to GCAP and the three partner nations’ FCAS activities.
What is the GCAP Agency?
The GCAP Agency is the trinational government entity empowered by the three partner nations to manage, coordinate and execute all phases of the programme.
Whereas Edgewing represents the industrial bases of Italy, Japan and the UK, the GCAP Agency represents the nations’ respective ministries of defence.
On behalf of the three partner nations, the GCAP Agency has placed the first international contract with Edgewing to deliver the programme. Masami Oka, from Japan, is the first Chief Executive of the GCAP Agency.
Is the GCAP Agency different to the GIGO (GCAP International Government Organisation)?
The GCAP Agency is directed by Steering Committee of the GIGO, which was established in 2024 to oversee delivery of the programme on behalf of Italy, Japan, and the UK. Together, the GCAP Agency and the Steering Committee form the GIGO.
What about the other partners?
Edgewing works with a wide network of industry partners across the UK, Italy and Japan to support the programme.
BAE Systems, Leonardo and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), sometimes referred to as ‘lead systems integrators’ are the national champions in the UK, Italy and Japan for combat aircraft research and development. All three provide support to Edgewing in its role as international industry lead.
Leonardo (in the UK and Italy), Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (Japan) and ELT Group (Italy) are developing fully integrated sensing, non-kinetic effects and integrated communications systems (ISANKE & ICS) for the GCAP fighter. Together, these will make the aircraft a sensor powerhouse. The companies have formed a consortium to deliver this capability, called GCAP Electronics Evolution (G2E). Edgewing has placed a contract on this consortium to deliver this sub-system.
Rolls-Royce (UK), IHI (Japan) and Avio Aero (Italy) have formed a consortium to design and develop the ‘power and propulsion’ system for GCAP. This will provide the aircraft with propulsive power and an integrated source of electrical power to meet the higher aircraft power loads. Edgewing has placed a contract on this consortium to deliver this sub-system.
Is the Excalibur Flight Test Aircraft part of GCAP?
Excalibur, being developed by Leonardo UK and partner 2Excel, is a 747-based ‘flying laboratory’ for combat air technology. It is technically part of the UK FCAS project, but will be used to test G2E tech under development for GCAP.
Those pictures of a full-size replica aircraft at DSEI last year and Farnbourough 2026. Is that the GCAP fighter?
The full-scale replica on show at DSEI is a realistic concept model of the future GCAP fighter.
What about the UK’s Combat Air Technology Demonstrator – is this a prototype GCAP aircraft?
No, this is a separate but complementary project.
The Combat Air Flying Demonstrator is one of several technology programmes in development in the UK along with Team Tempest partners. Its clear objective is to ensure the UK combat air industry can transition from 4th and 5th generation platforms to 6th generation capability, not just technologically but in skills, culture, and ways of working.
The UK Combat Air Demonstrator—led by BAE Systems—sits at the centre of this objective and although not a prototype aircraft in the traditional sense, it is a pathfinder for industrial, technical, and workforce transformation. As a UK funded programme, it acts as a de-risking bridge to GCAP, accelerating the development of advanced design approaches and manufacturing technique. The Demonstrator provides invaluable lessons on future combat air delivery and equips the UK industry with the skills to deliver GCAP.
The GCAP prototype will be designed and developed by Edgewing.
If GCAP is part of a system of systems, is Edgewing going to build drones as well?
GCAP currently covers the fighter jet and its systems. The GCAP fighter is being designed to be at the heart of a system of systems and will integrate with uncrewed/drone aircraft, however responsibility for accompanying drones hasn’t currently been determined.