Edgewing, the prime contractor and design authority for the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), has secured a £4.6 billion (US$6.1 billion) contract to lead the next stage of development for the trinational sixth-generation fighter aircraft.
Established in June 2025, Edgewing is a joint venture formed by BAE Systems, Leonardo, and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement to oversee the aircraft’s design and development.
The GCAP Agency, representing the governments of the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan, awarded the 18-month contract to support completion of the advanced concept and assessment phase while advancing detailed joint design and development activities.
The latest award follows an earlier £686 million (US$908 million) contract granted to Edgewing in April, which funded the initial design and engineering work for the next-generation fighter.
Sixth-Generation Fighter Programme
Launched in 2022, the GCAP is a collaborative initiative between the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan to develop a sixth-generation stealth combat aircraft incorporating advanced digital engineering, artificial intelligence, and next-generation combat technologies.
The future fighter is intended to replace the Eurofighter Typhoon fleets operated by the Royal Air Force and the Italian Air Force, as well as Japan’s aging Mitsubishi F-2 multirole fighters. The programme aims to field the new aircraft by 2035.
Several countries, including Canada and Saudi Arabia, have expressed interest in joining the programme to contribute technological expertise and share development costs. However, no new partners have been admitted, with Japan previously cautioning that expanding membership during the early development phase could slow programme progress.
