The national defense sector frontrunners on the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) – Leonardo (Italy), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Japan), and BAE Systems (UK) – have enthusiastically embraced the ratification of the Convention for the Formation of the “Global Combat Air Programme – GCAP International Government Organization (the GIGO)” by their respective administrations.
Ministers from Italy, Japan, and the UK endorsed the pact, which symbolizes a crucial alignment in the collaborative design and execution of a next-generation fighter jet by 2035. This agreement, established merely 12 months following the inception of the GCAP initiative, bolsters its progression and the robust trilateral collaboration among the associates.
Conversations regarding the prospective joint industrial framework to deliver GCAP are ongoing, with delegates from Leonardo, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and BAE Systems convening recently in Tokyo. In September of this year, the industry collaborators publicized a Cooperation Agreement to facilitate sustained discussions on long-term partnerships and the evolution of the concept and capability demands for the upcoming combat aircraft.
Herman Claesen, Managing Director, Future Combat Air Systems, BAE Systems’ Air division, remarked: “We commend the accord established by the governments of Italy, Japan, and the UK today, along with the ongoing advancements with our industrial collaborators to propel the future joint business framework that will enable us to deliver the next-generation combat aircraft. We are honored to represent the UK in this groundbreaking and progressive partnership, which will provide essential and cost-effective defense capabilities while helping to preserve our sovereign combat air expertise in the UK.”
Guglielmo Maviglia, Director GCAP programme, Leonardo, expressed: “We applaud the announcement made by our governments today, and we are honored to be a part of the GCAP alongside our partners. GCAP will facilitate the creation of an innovative next-gen core platform anchored by advanced and disruptive technologies that are pioneering a transformative new model for international industrial cooperation. Through its ambitions, the initiative will safeguard and promote the competitiveness of our industries on the global stage and will assess the industrial efficiency of the entire system.”
Hitoshi Shiraishi, Senior Fellow, GCAP, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, stated: “We would like to warmly welcome the endorsement of the treaty by the administrations of Italy, the UK, and Japan. Furthermore, following the finalization of this treaty, we aspire to work more closely with our counterparts in Italy and the UK to advocate for GCAP. We will also strive to ensure that GCAP enhances Japan’s defense capabilities.”
Today’s GCAP announcement also verified that the joint GCAP governmental headquarters will be situated in the UK, with the inaugural CEO hailing from Japan. Additionally, the future business framework will also be based in the UK, with its initial leader originating from Italy.
GCAP represents an immensely significant initiative for the security, political stability, and economic well-being of Italy, Japan, and the UK, and through efficient knowledge and technology transfer, it will aid in evolving and providing essential sovereign combat air capabilities within each nation for generations ahead.
At present, approximately 9000 individuals are engaged in GCAP globally, with over 1000 suppliers operating across the partner nations.
