“Transforming Aerial Warfare: The GCAP Alliance Pioneers Advanced Sensing and Communication Technologies for Future Fighter Jets”

The leaders in the defense electronics industry from Japan, the UK, and Italy have formed a consortium, gearing up the partners to commence the design and development phase of the integrated sensing and communications component of the GCAP, the Global Combat Air Programme.

The companies: Mitsubishi Electric for Japan, Leonardo UK representing the UK, and both Leonardo and ELT Group for Italy, first announced the signing of a collaboration agreement at DSEI Japan in March 2023 and, following extensive trilateral efforts, solidified a consortium pact this August. The establishment of the consortium formalizes that cooperation as a commercial framework, indicating a major advancement at an industrial level while reinforcing the partners’ long-term commitment to GCAP.

The consortium, dubbed GCAP Electronics Evolution (G2E), is being formed in anticipation of acquiring a contract from Edgewing, the business alliance among BAE Systems (UK), Leonardo (Italy), and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co. Ltd. (Japan), acting as the principal systems integrators for the GCAP combat aircraft.

The four organizations will unite to deliver the cutting-edge sensing and communication systems for the next-generation combat aircraft, identified as Integrated Sensing and Non-Kinetic Effects & Integrated Communications Systems (ISANKE & ICS), alongside the system’s comprehensive Through-Life Support Service (TLSS) spanning decades.

ISANKE & ICS is pivotal to the GCAP initiative. The assimilation and application of the vast data that will be available in the upcoming operational context will be a defining element that distinguishes the GCAP core platform from previous iterations of combat aircraft.

The consortium is being organized to meet the ambitious timelines established by GCAP while ensuring accountability at every level and supporting each nation’s independence and adaptability in modifications.

The leadership team for the consortium will be located in Reading, UK, close to the GCAP International Government Organization (GIGO), representing the three national defense ministries, and Edgewing to ensure the closest possible collaboration with these entities.

As a consortium, GCAP Electronics Evolution is committed to engaging with all stakeholders to promote the shared goals of security, economic growth, and skill development of the partner nations. It will continue to leverage the expertise and resources of each participating country, through enhancing trilateral cooperation, to bolster security across Europe and the Asia-Pacific region for many years to come.