International by design
The Global Combat Air Programme strategically important partnership, bringing together the governments of the UK, Italy and Japan, and their respective industries, to collaborate on shared military and industrial objectives in the delivery of a next generation combat air capability.
By fostering close collaboration between industries and governments, the programme is a cornerstone of strategic defence and security partnerships, and will deliver the capability to defeat the future threats of 2040+ with a targeted in service date of 2035.
In December 2024, BAE Systems (UK), Leonardo (Italy) and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co Ltd (JAIEC) reached a landmark agreement to establish a new joint venture for the GCAP. This agreement built on the strong trilateral government, defence, and industrial cooperation between the UK, Japan, and Italy on GCAP since it was established in December 2022.
In June 2025 the partners announced the creation of Edgewing, the new joint venture company with each partner holding a 33.3% shareholding. Edgewing brings together the combined strengths and expertise of three leading companies and will mark a pivotal moment for the international aerospace and defence industry.
This unique partnership not only drives innovation and technological advancement but also promotes significant economic growth in each nation, securing the future of our respective combat air industries for decades.
Partnership progress
Next generation skills
GCAP is creating highly skilled jobs in all three nations, strengthening the industrial base and driving innovation with benefits to national and local economies.
The programme is attracting engineering talent, with young people inspired by the opportunity to be part of a once in a generation combat air programme.
Skills and training initiatives have been launched to develop the existing workforce, build networks between employees and pass on knowledge to future generations who will join GCAP.
Global supply chain
GCAP is harnessing innovation and technical expertise across a diverse range of suppliers, partnering with high-tech SMEs including those outside the traditional defence sector, to drive technology development quickly and enable suppliers to innovate and bring specialist skills to GCAP.
Investment in GCAP is helping to deliver benefit beyond the defence sector and is stimulating economic growth, with over 1,000 suppliers already engaged in the programme across the partner nations.
The programme is adopting a revolutionary digital enterprise approach through a collaborative working environment, ensuring effective co-operation across international Governments and industry, as well as partners and supply chains; creating a truly international programme.
World-leading capability
The combat aircraft, called Tempest in the UK, will be one of the world’s most advanced, interoperable, adaptable and connected fighter jets in service.
The programme is championing new approaches to the development and delivery of future combat air technologies, using digital engineering to design and innovate, embracing Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), and ground-breaking wearable technologies that will ensure GCAP remains at the cutting edge of advancements in defence technology.
Intelligent factories have been established to support partnerships with high-tech SMEs and use advanced manufacturing techniques to reduce lead times and cost in future aircraft production, delivering time, cost and accuracy benefits across the programme.
The launch of the Global Combat Air Programme firmly positions the UK, alongside Japan and Italy, as leaders in the design, development and production of next generation combat air capability. With our UK industry partners, we look forward to strengthening our ties with Japanese and Italian industries as we work together to deliver this programme of huge importance to our global defence and security. The agreement with Japan and Italy is fundamental to meeting the goals set out in the UK Combat Air Strategy and is set to create and sustain thousands of high value jobs and benefit hundreds of companies across the UK, contributing to long-term economic prosperity and safeguarding sovereign combat air capability for generations to come.Charles Woodburn, Chief Executive, BAE Systems
Bringing the best of British engineering
The programme builds on the substantial progress and investment already made in the UK by BAE Systems, Leonardo UK, MBDA UK, Rolls-Royce and the UK Ministry of Defence through the Team Tempest partnership.
The partnership has been researching and evaluating a host of future combat air system capabilities since 2018, and will continue to develop the technologies needed to deliver next generation combat air capability.