UK, Japan, and Italy Sign £4.6 Billion Contract to Advance Sixth-Generation Fighter Development
On Friday (July 3), the United Kingdom, Japan, and Italy signed a £4.6 billion contract to provide financial support for their joint development of the sixth-generation fighter aircraft under the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). The UK Ministry of Defence stated that the goal is to have the aircraft operational by 2035.
According to the UK government's Defense Investment Plan (DIP) released at the end of June, the UK will invest £8.6 billion in the GCAP project over the next four years.
Under the GCAP framework, tripartite joint institutions have been established at both governmental and corporate levels in the UK, Japan, and Italy to coordinate and advance project implementation. The newly signed £4.6 billion contract is jointly funded by the three governments and will be invested into Edgewing, a joint venture company established in June of last year. The company was formed by BAE Systems of the UK, the Japan Aerospace Industry and Economic Cooperation (JAIEC), and Leonardo Group of Italy—each serving as the prime contractor for GCAP in their respective countries.
In addition to developing sixth-generation fighters, the UK also plans to accelerate the integration of unmanned and autonomous combat systems to enhance air force combat effectiveness and survivability while improving military efficiency. According to the Defense Investment Plan, the future UK air force will consist of a coordinated combat system combining fourth-, fifth-, and sixth-generation fighters with unmanned combat systems, aiming to achieve the optimal balance between equipment quantity and performance.
Following an additional investment of over £1.1 billion for upgrades, the fourth-generation Typhoon fighter is expected to remain in service at least through the 2040s. Regarding fifth-generation fighters, in addition to the currently deployed F-35B, the UK will also introduce the F-35A capable of delivering nuclear weapons—thereby retaining its sea-based nuclear deterrent based on strategic nuclear submarines while restoring the air-based nuclear strike capability it abandoned after the Cold War.
Furthermore, the UK Air Force plans to launch the Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) programme, developing unmanned combat aircraft capable of operating alongside manned fighters. The first technology demonstration flight is expected to be completed before 2030.
The CCA programme will initially receive £300 million in funding. As planned, these unmanned combat aircraft will first operate in coordination with fourth- and fifth-generation fighters. Once the GCAP sixth-generation fighter becomes operational, the UK is expected to become the first country in Europe to field such advanced aircraft.
Notably, the GCAP sixth-generation fighter has incorporated advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) from the design phase. The Defense Investment Plan notes that the project is building a cross-border research and development and supply chain system for dual-use military-civilian technologies and remains open to welcoming new partners.
This model resembles the AUKUS security partnership. AUKUS’s first pillar focuses on constructing nuclear-powered submarines, limited to participation by the US, UK, and Australia only; the second pillar focuses on collaboration in advanced military technologies and dual-use technologies such as artificial intelligence and quantum technologies, and is open to other partner nations. The US, UK, and Australia previously indicated they would prioritize Japan’s involvement in certain aspects of AUKUS’s second pillar.
Besides AUKUS, the UK government emphasized in the Defense Investment Plan that the GCAP project will also contribute to maintaining security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region. While the Europe–Atlantic region remains the primary focus of UK defense deployments and NATO requirements are still prioritized, the Indo-Pacific and the Middle East hold significant strategic importance for the UK. The UK will assist regional allies in enhancing their defense capabilities through bilateral and multilateral mechanisms and continue to maintain a sustained military presence in the Indo-Pacific region.
Source: rfi
Original: toutiao.com/article/1869758784268361/
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