Decision
The defense ministers of Japan, Britain and Italy met in a trilateral video conference and agreed to sign the first contract in the GCAP project to develop a sixth-generation fighter.
Consortium and responsibilities
The development will be led by the consortium Edgewing, which includes BAE Systems, Italy's Leonardo and Japan's JAIEC. The consortium's task is to move from concept to testing and the start of production; its headquarters will be located in Reading.
Aircraft and timeline
The new fighter is intended to replace the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Mitsubishi F-2. Conceptually, it is a low-observable aircraft with a delta wing, long range and an internal weapons bay; it will be equipped with next-generation sensors and UAV control systems within an integrated combat network.
The first contract between the intergovernmental organisation GIGO and Edgewing is planned to be signed by the end of the year; serial production is expected to begin by 2035.
