Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP)

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Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP)

What is GCAP?

The Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) is a multinational collaborative project led by Italy, the United Kingdom and Japan, guided by the shared ambition of producing the next-generation fighter aircraft by 2035.

Leonardo, alongside the British BAE Systems and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co. Ltd, is a strategic partner of Edgewing, the joint venture responsible for the design and development of the programme.

The “system of systems” will operate in five domains – air, land, sea, space and cyber – establishing the next-generation fighter as its “core platform”, connected to crewed and uncrewed peripheral “systems”.

> 750

people engaged in Engineering (aeronautics, electronics, mechanics, management, information technology and systems engineering) and in Project & Programme Management

4

business areas involved: Aircraft, Electronics, Cyber & Security Solutions, and Aerostructures

> 50%

of the 100 doctorates launched with leading Italian universities will contribute to the programme

With its fully digital technological capacity, the aircraft will be able to carry out missions in a coordinated and synergistic manner, supported by a command, control and communications infrastructure based on artificial intelligence, supercomputing, combat cloud architecture, and adaptive, ultra-fast cyber-resilient data links for high-volume data transmission.

GCAP as a driving force for the economy

Launched in 2022 – born from the convergence of the three countries’ initiatives – GCAP aims to make the next-generation fighter operational by 2035. The programme is already in the operational phase: following the first £686 million joint contract in April 2026, on 3 July, the GCAP Agency awarded Edgewing a second £4.6 billion contract, lasting 18 months and jointly funded by the three countries, to complete the advanced analysis and conceptualisation phase and then continue into detailed design and development.

GCAP programme will act as a driving force for technological development, in addition to bolstering the long-term growth of the economies of the countries involved. On the Italian front, Leonardo will be working alongside other leading companies in the sector, such as Avio Aero, Elettronica and MBDA Italia, and benefitting from their supply chains (universities, research centres, SMEs and start-ups).

GCAP represents one of the most challenging and futuristic programmes in the Aerospace, Defence and Security industry, ensuring technological sovereignty for generations to come.

Edgewing

Edgewing Ltd harnesses the expertise of BAE Systems, Leonardo and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co. Ltd to lead the Global Combat Air Programme. Based in Reading (UK), Leonardo, BAE Systems and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co. Ltd. each hold a 33.3% stake in Edgewing. Led by Chairman Herman Claesen and CEO Marco Zoff, the joint venture serves as a tri-national prime contractor, responsible for system design and development and design authority for the entire product lifecycle, which will extend beyond 2070. Production and final assembly will be carried out by national enterprises and their respective supply chains.

On the government side, the GCAP International Government Organisation (GIGO) manages and coordinates the programme through the GCAP Agency.

Italy’s strategic role

Edgewing Italia is the first Italian branch of the company, and will oversee the Edgewing ventures within the country, integrating their contributions and activities with the international organisation.

At full capacity, the plan provides for about 1,000 human resources in Edgewing Italia, as well as more than 1,000 people at Leonardo. They will be dedicated to the activities of the partner companies, primarily at the Turin and Caselle sites, with the involvement of other Italian sites.

In October 2026, the first national Edgewing site was inaugurated in the Piedmontese capital.

The opening marked a fundamental stage in the industrial collaboration between the three countries, recognising the presence of engineering and manufacturing skills in the territory, as noted by Lorenzo Mariani, CEO and General Manager of Leonardo.

“GCAP is one of the most challenging and cutting-edge programmes in the entire Aerospace, Defence and Security sector, capable of preserving technological sovereignty for future generations,” Mariani explained. “I am proud that hundreds of engineers here in Turin, and thousands more across the country, will contribute to its success. GCAP will drive the technological development and long-term growth of the economies of the countries involved, creating highly skilled jobs and supporting production ecosystems throughout the entire chain. Through GCAP, we are ensuring a safer and more prosperous future for Italy, as well as for our allies, Japan and the United Kingdom.”

Turin was chosen as a territory with a strong aeronautical and engineering tradition. In Caselle, Leonardo is responsible for the final assembly of the Eurofighter fighter jet, and the city is also home to a hub of engineering expertise.

Join the team

Join Edgewing to contribute to the realization of GCAP, one of the most ambitious international programmes in the Aerospace, Defence and Security industry.

Discover more about Edgewing