{"id":36591,"date":"2026-07-06T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-07-05T21:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/?p=36591"},"modified":"2026-07-05T08:00:41","modified_gmt":"2026-07-05T05:00:41","slug":"uk-italy-and-japan-advance-sixth-generation-fighter-program-with-6-1-billion-gcap-contract","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.ir-ia.com\/news\/uk-italy-and-japan-advance-sixth-generation-fighter-program-with-6-1-billion-gcap-contract\/","title":{"rendered":"UK, Italy, and Japan advance sixth-generation fighter program with $6.1 billion GCAP contract"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

4 minute read<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan have awarded a $6.1 billion contract to Edgewing to advance the development of the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP), marking a significant milestone in the trilateral effort to field a sixth-generation fighter aircraft by 2035.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 18-month contract will support the completion of the program’s advanced concept and assessment phase while funding the next stage of detailed design and development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The agreement follows months of uncertainty over British funding, which had delayed progress on one of the world’s most ambitious next-generation combat aircraft projects.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The contract was awarded by the GCAP Agency, which oversees the program on behalf of the three partner governments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The latest agreement follows an earlier interim contract worth $916 million, awarded in April 2026, that allowed work to continue while the United Kingdom finalized its long-awaited Defense Investment Plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Earlier this week, London committed $11.4 billion over the next four years to the GCAP program, exceeding previous expectations and providing the financial backing needed to move the project into its next phase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

British Defense Procurement Minister Luke Pollard described the agreement as a major milestone for the multinational project.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\"UK<\/a>
UK RAF’s next-generation combat aircraft Tempest. (Image Credit: UK Royal Air Force\/via X)<\/sup><\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

“The Global Combat Air Program will give our pilots a cutting-edge stealth fighter jet. Signing this $6.1 billion contract alongside Italy and Japan is a major step forward towards delivery,” he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pollard added that the program would strengthen cooperation with allied nations, support thousands of skilled jobs across the United Kingdom, and provide the Royal Air Force with advanced capabilities backed by the government’s $11.4 billion investment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n


Edgewing Leads International Development<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Edgewing serves as the industrial prime contractor for GCAP and was formally established in June 2025 by three national defense companies:<\/p>\n\n\n\n