UK opens GCAP headquarters

A model of the GCAP future fighter. The new headquarters building for the project has now been opened in the UK. (Edgewing)

The new governmental and industrial headquarters (HQ) for the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) was officially opened in the UK town of Reading on 7 July.

The building, which will co-locate the GCAP International Government Organisation (GIGO) joint governmental office and the Edgewing industrial joint venture (JV), was officially opened by UK Minister of State for Defence Procurement and Industry Maria Eagle.

“The new global HQ has been opened [on] 7 July in a significant milestone for the Global Combat Air Programme – a joint initiative between the UK, Japan, and Italy to develop a next-generation fighter jet,” the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) said.

As well as accommodating governmental and military officials from the three partner countries that comprise the GIGO (to initially be led by Japan's Masami Oka), the new HQ will house BAE Systems, Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co Ltd (JAIEC), and Leonardo as the lead national industrial contractors in Edgewing (to initially be led by Leonardo's Marco Zoff).

“The opening comes on the same day as the [UK] Defence Secretary [John Healey] met virtually with Italy's Defence Minister Guido Crosetto and Japan's Defence Minister Gen Nakatani to discuss the latest progress on GCAP. The programme is already creating thousands of highly skilled jobs across the UK, Japan, and Italy, including new apprentice and graduate roles, and supporting the strong relationship between industry and the armed forces of the three nations,” the MoD said.