03.04.2026 10:53
The first international contract worth £686 million has been signed for the GCAP fighter jet project, jointly conducted by the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan. With Edgewing as the main contractor, the agreement consolidates design and engineering work under one roof. The project, planned to enter service in 2035, is considered a significant step towards a new era in global aviation.
The Global Combat Air Program (GCAP), jointly conducted by the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan, has reached a critical stage in the next-generation fighter jet project. The first international contract worth £686 million has been signed under the program.
DESIGN AND ENGINEERING UNDER ONE ROOF
The agreement between the GCAP Agency and Edgewing has unified the design and engineering efforts previously conducted separately by the three countries under a single international structure. This step is considered a significant milestone in the program's integration process.
EDGEWING BECAME THE MAIN CONTRACTOR
Designated as the design authority for the project, Edgewing will be the main actor responsible for the development process of the fighter jet. The company operates in partnership with BAE Systems, Leonardo, and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co. Ltd.
CRITICAL STEP TOWARDS THE 2035 GOAL
This step taken for the next-generation fighter jet, planned to be operational by 2035, is said to accelerate the program. Masami Oka, the Executive Chairman of the GCAP Agency, stated that the process has now truly become a unified program.
“RESULT OF STRONG COLLABORATION”
Edgewing CEO Marco Zoff emphasized that the agreement is a result of strong collaboration towards common goals. It was noted that the company aims to initiate a new era in global aviation by operating simultaneously in the three countries.