DSEI 2025: GCAP partners ‘open to working with others', but remain committed to challenging schedule

An artist's rendering released at DSEI 2025 showing the GCAP operating in the future battlespace. The three partner countries remain open to working with others on the project, but remain committed to fulfilling its challenging schedule. (GCAP Electronics Evolution)

There is scope for widening co-operation on the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) with other countries, despite the current focus being on delivering the project with the existing tri-lateral partnership of Italy, Japan, and the UK, the latter's Ministry of Defence (MoD) has said.

The UK MoD made the assertion to Janes during the Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) 2025 defence exhibition held in London from 9 to 12 September.

“All three GCAP nations have highlighted an openness to working with other nations while keeping us on track with the programme schedule and helping us deliver our future military capabilities,” the MoD said.

The GCAP programme is on course to transition from the current concept and assessment phase to the full development and design phase at the end of 2025. A flying prototype is anticipated in 2030, with entry into service following in 2035.

While the MoD's comment reflects the official position of the GCAP programme, it was somewhat at odds with those made on the same day at the same event by the interim chief of the GCAP Electronics Evolution (G2E) consortium tasked with delivering the next-generation sensors and communications technologies.

When asked about future partners, director of Future Combat Air at Leonardo UK Andrew Howard was more circumspect, saying that the risks to the 2035 in-service schedule for GCAP outweigh the potential benefits of admitting new partners at the time, but others may be admitted in different capacities in the production phase of the programme.