The consortium of Italian firms that will engage in the advancement of the new Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) has finalized a contract to assist the Italian Ministry of Defense during the programme’s new conceptual & evaluation phase alongside related demonstration initiatives. The consortium, which includes Leonardo as a strategic partner, along with Italy’s premier firms in their respective fields—Elettronica, Avio Aero, and MBDA Italia—will drive technological advancement in support of the GCAP “system of systems” framework, rooted in sixth-generation combat air platforms functioning across multi-domain environments.
Industry will collaborate with universities, research institutions, SMEs, and start-ups, facilitating the exchange of knowledge and enhancement of skills at a nationwide scale, all in close alliance with the Italian Ministry of Defence. The Ministry will oversee the articulation of operational requirements and steer technological advancement, leveraging industry support.
Alessandro Profumo, Chief Executive Officer at Leonardo, stated: “This new phase is a pivotal milestone in the journey of identifying and provisioning the cutting-edge technologies essential for ensuring our defense capabilities experience the needed generational, technological, and operational progress, enabling our national enterprise to attain top-tier excellence and strategic independence. As part of the GCAP initiative, Italian firms will occupy a crucial position in the evolution of the defense sector on both national and global stages. This will unfold within a growth framework that bolsters the operational capabilities of our Armed Forces while simultaneously generating positive returns encompassing technological, economic, and societal advancement for the entire national ecosystem.”
Enzo Benigni, Chairman and CEO of Elettronica, remarked: “With the initiation of this new phase in the GCAP initiative, we are devising a strategy for technology and industry that will transition Italy’s technological landscape from the Typhoon epoch, the last significant European combat air development programme, to a new era of aerial combat underpinned by sixth-generation capabilities. The broader geopolitical landscape emphasizes the critical need to achieve optimal readiness, interoperability, and availability of technologies. By accomplishing this, we will be equipped to address any crises that may arise. The prominent role of Italian industry in the GCAP programme will ensure a national, European, and international legacy, reinforcing the concepts of strategic autonomy and technological sovereignty. Elettronica stands prepared to contribute and acknowledges that the objectives the GCAP programme aims to fulfill align closely with its own.”
Riccardo Procacci, CEO of Avio Aero, commented: “Today’s complex geopolitical atmosphere demands technological solutions centered on operational excellence and adaptability to future scenarios. The GCAP programme is addressing this necessity and will support the needs of the Armed Forces while assuring strategic autonomy. Avio Aero, being a European player in the propulsion field and a long-term ally of the Armed Forces, is bringing its expertise and recognized technological prowess to the programme while also continuing to invest in the development of innovative technologies, with the backing and involvement of its network of collaborations with universities, research institutions, and SMEs.”
Lorenzo Mariani, Executive Group Director Sales and Business Development at MBDA Group and CEO of MBDA Italia, stated: “By participating in the GCAP programme and this subsequent phase of our contract, MBDA Italia along with our partners at research centers and SMEs will leverage our collective capacity to manage the effectors and associated technologies essential for the system of systems. These technologies will lay the groundwork for advanced systems relevant to national air defense. The capability to counter formidable threats will be a pivotal aspect of the performance of a sixth-generation combat air system.”
In support of the GCAP initiative, Italy has already allocated 6 billion Euros towards investment in research and development, paving the way for the initiation of technology advancement projects in crucial strategic areas. These projects will enable Italy’s national industry to engage in future developmental stages of the systems of systems.
The establishment of a national collaborative work environment, underpinned by advanced digital security infrastructure, will facilitate the secure exchange of information, services, and activities, thereby enhancing the execution phases through a secured and classified virtual landscape. The launch of initiatives that will yield technological advancement in strategic areas will empower Italy’s national industry to undertake a significant role in the development of the system of systems. This effort will be essential in achieving a commendable level of national sovereignty.
This initiative also serves to establish the foundation for further international cooperation in the technological advancement of sixth-generation combat air platforms, enhancing Italy’s industrial competitiveness, its strategic autonomy, and the academic and professional capabilities of present and future generations. To support this vision, companies have already commenced investment in research, fostering collaborations with universities, and promoting technology incubators in the innovation sector, highlighting the most promising ones on both national and international fronts.
