Global Combat Air Programme

The Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP; Italian: Programma Aereo da Combattimento Globale; PACG; Japanese: グローバル戦闘航空プログラム, romanized: Gurōbaru Sentō Kōkū Puroguramu) is a multinational initiative led by Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom to jointly develop a sixth-generation, multi-role, stealth fighter, informally referred to as Tempest. Administered through the GCAP International Government Organisation (GIGO) and designed and manufactured by Edgewing, a joint venture formed by Leonardo, BAE Systems and JAIEC (a consortium led by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries), the programme aims to replace the Eurofighter Typhoon in service with the Royal Air Force (RAF) and Italian Air Force, and the Mitsubishi F-2 in service with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force. On 21 July 2026, Canada joined as an observer to the programme. 9 December 2022, the governments of Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom, jointly announced that they would develop and deploy a common fighter jet, merging their previously separate sixth-generation projects: the United Kingdom-led BAE Systems Tempest developed with Italy, and the Japanese Mitsubishi F-X. This was formalised with a treaty signed in December 2023 in Japan which established the GIGO. The Joint venture Edgewing would officially launch in June 2025. Edgewing received its first internation £686 million contract in April 2026, followed by a larger £4.6 billion contract in July marking the transition from national contracts by each partner, to a fully-fledged international programme. The aircraft was originally expected to enter service in 2035. Leonardo has estimated that as many as 350 aircraft could be ordered between the three nations. In July 2026, Leonardo CEO Lorenzo Mariani told reports that the aircraft could enter service two years ahead of its 2035 target date.