Second joint international contract awarded for the Global Combat air program (GCap), the development program of a new generation fighter that sees the collaboration between Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom.
The contract, worth £4,6 billion, will allow for the completion of the advanced concept definition and program evaluation phase, as well as for the continuation of joint detailed design and development. The agreement, lasting 18 months, was awarded by the GCap Agency – the body that manages the program on behalf of the three governments – to Edgewing, the trinational prime contractor and design authority of the GCap aircraft.
Edgewing is a joint venture formed by players from the three countries involved, with equal shares of 33,3% each: Italy's Leonardo, Britain's BAE Systems, and Japan's Japan Aircraft Industrial EnhancementThe award of this contract represents another significant milestone for the program, underscoring the pace of progress and confirming GCAP as an excellent example of innovative collaboration in the defense sectorJointly funded by the three nations, the contract will drive the next phase of key design and engineering activities.
This long-term investment reflects confidence, unity and momentum towards the future in a partnership of fundamental importance in the defense sector. This is the second joint international contract awarded by the GCap Agency to Edgewing, following the initial £686 million contract awarded in April 2026.
“I am delighted to sign this international contract on behalf of the three GCap nations: Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom,” commented Masami Oka, CEO of GCap Agency "This will enable the GCap Agency and Edgewing to continue making tremendous progress across all areas of the project. The program is vital to global security and countering future threats, while also enabling the sharing of costs and technological benefits and the creation of highly skilled jobs across all three countries. Thanks to this long-term funding, the future of GCap is stronger than ever. I am excited about what we will achieve over the next 18 months and the opportunities we will create to further grow the program."
“This contract – he added Marco Zoff, CEO of Edgewing – is a testament to the trust placed in us by all three nations and our partners at the GCap Agency; a trust strengthened by the rapid progress made on the first international contract. This momentum is fueled by our innovative defense collaboration model: this is the first time three countries have joined together to create a single prime contractor engineering, acting on behalf of their respective national industries and interfacing with a single client with full decision-making powers. As we ramp up operations and launch the next phase of the program, I look with pride at the progress already made and with confidence at the future that awaits us.”
The program is implemented through trinational industrial collaborations involving leading companies from the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan. Launched in 2022, The GCap program aims to create an innovative next-generation stealth fighter, equipped with cutting-edge technologies, to support the national industries of partner countries. The aircraft is scheduled for delivery by 2035; it will have the capabilities needed to ensure a strategic advantage even in the most complex operational scenarios.
