Key facts
- Japan, the U.K., and Italy are progressing with their joint sixth-generation stealth fighter jet program, the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).
- The project aims to replace existing fighter jets like the Eurofighter Typhoon and Mitsubishi F-2.
- A demonstrator aircraft is expected to fly in 2027, with production aircraft entering service from 2035.
- Germany has been invited to join the collaborative effort.
- The program is managed by a joint venture called Edgewing, established in June 2025.
Japan, the U.K., and Italy are advancing their joint sixth-generation stealth fighter jet project, the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), with leaders from the three nations meeting to discuss its progress. The project is moving toward the main design phase, with a goal of having a demonstrator aircraft fly by 2027 and production models enter service by 2035.
The GCAP initiative, established in December 2022, aims to replace the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Mitsubishi F-2 fighter jets. The program is a merger of the U.K.'s BAE Systems Tempest project (developed with Italy) and Japan's Mitsubishi F-X.
Around 9,000 people are working on the program globally, supported by over 1,000 suppliers across the three partner nations. A joint venture named Edgewing was launched in June 2025 to oversee the program's operations, involving major aerospace companies like BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Leonardo, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
Japan's motivation for the advanced fighter stems from its vast air defense identification zone and the need to protect it with a smaller, highly intelligent fleet. The country's previous fighter fleet consisted of the Mitsubishi F-15J and the Mitsubishi F-2, with the F-2 needing replacement in the 2030s.
Discussions have also included the possibility of involving additional countries, with Germany reportedly being approached to join the collaboration. The project is seen as a significant step in advanced military aviation, potentially creating one of the world's second sixth-generation stealth aircraft after the U.S. B-21 Raider.