Global Combat Air Program: UK, Italy, Japan Unveil New Concept Model Of Next-Gen GCAP Combat Aircraft

Despite concerns, the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) has taken a major leap forward with the unveiling of a new draft concept by the trilateral grouping of the UK, Italy, and Japan.

The three GCAP partner countries showcased the new concept model of their upcoming combat aircraft at the ongoing Farnborough International Airshow.

An official press release published by British contractor BAE Systems stated, “Exhibiting at the show together for the first time, the three GCAP government partners and their lead industry partners BAE Systems (UK), Leonardo (Italy), and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Japan) will showcase the significant strides they are making to progress the delivery of a truly next-generation combat aircraft.”

The latest concept model has a bigger wingspan than the previous one and a far more advanced design to enhance the future combat aircraft’s aerodynamics. The new concept airframe appears to be massive, as observed by several military watchers who said it was an absolute beast of an aircraft.

Aviation Journalist Gareth Jennings said on X: “The switch to a much larger wing and a true delta (pic 1) over the previous modified cranked delta (pic 2) indicates a greater emphasis being placed on range (more internal fuel capacity/less drag), speed (less drag) and payload (more lift/less drag) over classic dogfighting agility.”

Some British media reports stated that the next-generation Tempest aircraft (as it will be known in the UK) developed under the GCAP will feature hypersonic missiles and Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs).

The BAE press statement, however, made no mention of this.

During the Farnborough Airshow in July 2018, the UK revealed a mock-up of the ‘Tempest,’ a sixth-generation fighter led by BAE Systems. The newly unveiled concept design builds on the previous concept yet features improvements.

The unveiling comes just months after reports indicated that the three partners were discussing the preliminary design of the aircraft, and negotiations on the division of responsibilities for the overall program were expected to begin in March.

A representative for Japan’s Acquisitions, Logistics and Technology Agency (ATLA) previously told Janes the three nations “have been proceeding with conceptual design and preliminary design, in which the discussions on the fighter’s concept are underway.”

The genesis of this collaborative effort dates back to 2022 when participating nations — Italy, Japan, and the UK — unveiled plans to engineer a sixth-generation fighter jet. Earlier this month, BAE officials told the media that the aircraft will be fielded in 2035, as projected. Moreover, a “manned, supersonic and low observable jet” demonstrator is expected to fly in the next five years.  This makes the new design concept significant.

Herman Claesen, Managing Director of Future Combat Air Systems at BAE Systems, highlighted the progress made since the program’s launch: “In the 18 months since the launch of the Global Combat Air Programme, we’ve been working closely with our industrial partners in Italy and Japan under the collaboration agreement and with the three governments to understand and align requirements for a next-generation combat aircraft. The new model, unveiled at Farnborough International Airshow, shows notable progress in the design and concept of this future fighter jet. We’ll continue to test and evolve the design as we move closer towards the next phase of the program.”

The envisioned combat air system will consist of a main fighter aircraft complemented by unmanned “adjuncts,” such as drones, alongside advanced sensors and interconnected data systems powered by artificial intelligence and cloud architecture. A software-driven interactive cockpit, integrated sensors, an intelligent weapons system, and a next-generation radar will provide more data than current systems characterize the combat aircraft.

According to GCAP partners, the aircraft will be one of the most advanced, interoperable, adaptable, and connected fighter jets in the world. The goal of the program is to provide a replacement for the Eurofighter Typhoon used by the Royal Air Force and the Italian Air Force, as well as the Mitsubishi F-2 used by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. Also, the new aircraft will be available for export to lower the cost per unit.

However, the timing of the new design’s unveiling is interesting, as it comes at a time of increased uncertainty over the new British government’s commitment to the aircraft.

No Firm Stand For GCAP By Labour Government 

The newly elected Labour government in the UK has refrained from making a long-term commitment to the next-generation multilateral Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), fearing repercussions from the recently announced Strategic Defence Review (SDR).

Speaking at the Global Air Chief’s Conference, Luke Pollard, UK armed forces minister, said, “It is a really important program for us. It’s important for our partners in Japan and Italy … and we’re meeting both partners next week to underline that. But it’s wrong for me to prejudge what might happen in the [Strategic] Defence Review.”

Labor leader and Prime Minister Keir Starmer officially commissioned the SDR last week, and London promised to usher in a “new era” of defense in the process. The SDR is anticipated to outline the acquisition modifications, procurement reforms, and strategic priorities for the UK. “In recognition of the urgency of the threats” that the UK faces, work on the project has already begun, and it is anticipated that lawmakers will get it in “the first half of 2025.”

Moreover, media reports stated that Labour’s unwillingness to talk about GCAP seems inconsistent with its open support of the AUKUS (a trilateral security partnership for the Indo-Pacific region between Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States) security cooperation, which will see the development of a new class of Australian nuclear-powered submarines.

Additionally, after the US announced it was reconsidering its sixth-generation aircraft program dubbed the ‘Next Generation Air Dominance’ program, there is a new discourse in the UK about whether London should deprioritize its sixth-generation fighter to better prepare for a potentially more immediate war with Russia beyond Ukraine’s borders, which some European leaders and analysts predict will occur in three to five years.

Before its departure, the UK Conservative government had pledged to spend an extra £12 billion ($15.5 billion) overall and £2 billion ($2.6 billion) on GCAP until 2025. However, it is unclear if the present Labour government will maintain that level of support.

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