The UK, Japan, and Italy have signed an initial £686 million contract with industrial partners to advance the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a sixth-generation fighter jet project targeting delivery by 2035.
The short-term agreement, running until June 2026, enables continued engineering and design work while governments finalise longer-term funding arrangements. It also provides the UK time to complete its delayed 10-year defence investment plan amid budgetary constraints.
Japanese officials have expressed concern over delays to a full multi-year contract, attributed to the UK’s pending funding commitments.
Key developments:
• £686m contract signed for early-stage design and engineering work
• Agreement runs for three months, acting as a funding bridge
• Full international contract delayed beyond initial 2025 target
• Programme led by industry partners including BAE Systems, Leonardo, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries
The UK Ministry of Defence said the deal sustains progress towards a comprehensive international agreement.
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