The European Union has approved the establishment of a joint venture that will serve as the prime contractor for the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a multinational initiative to develop a sixth-generation fighter aircraft.
The entity brings together BAE Systems (Holdings) Limited, Leonardo S.p.A., and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co Ltd, with each partner holding an equal 33.3% share. Headquartered in the United Kingdom, the joint venture will be led by an Italian chief executive.
Developed primarily for the air forces of the UK, Italy, and Japan, the future fighter jet is scheduled to enter service by 2035. As part of a broader ‘system of systems,’ it will be designed to operate in coordination with assets across air, land, sea, space, and cyber domains. The aircraft will feature digital infrastructure, including AI-enabled systems, secure combat cloud integration, and high-speed, cyber-resilient communications.
The European Commission noted that while the platform is primarily intended for the founding nations, future sales to other governments or jurisdictions remain a possibility.
The GCAP programme is expected to drive industrial activity across the partner countries. In addition to the lead firms, a wide network of suppliers—including Avio Aero, Elettronica, MBDA Italia, research institutions, and SMEs—are likely to play a role in its development.
Meanwhile, a separate European next-generation fighter initiative involving France, Germany, and Spain continues in parallel. The coexistence of two major programmes has prompted debate among defence analysts regarding Europe’s long-term capacity to support both.