Edgewing Wins First $875 Million Contract to Develop GCAP Sixth-Generation Fighter Jet

Edgewing, a joint venture between Italy, Japan, and the UK, has won the first contract to develop the GCAP sixth-generation fighter jet.

The announcement came from Leonardo, the Italian company and one of Edgewing’s founders.

The £686 million ($875 million) deal funds key design and engineering work and allows the trilateral partnership to accelerate the program.
“This contract is an important moment for GCAP, as activities previously conducted under three nations’ contracts will now be carried out as part of a fully fledged international program,” Masami Oka, GCAP Agency Chief Executive, announced.

BAE Systems (UK), Leonardo (Italy), and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement (Japan) formed Edgewing in June 2025 to develop the sixth-generation GCAP fighter jet.

Edgewing will lead the design and development of the aircraft and remain responsible for the full product life cycle.

GCAP

GCAP (Global Combat Air Programme) is a joint effort between the UK, Italy, and Japan to develop a sixth-generation fighter jet. Aircraft are scheduled to enter service by 2035.

Although the fighter jet is a joint project, each country will integrate different radar, missiles, bombs, and other systems.

The program merges national initiatives: the UK’s Tempest, Italy’s Leonardo-based effort, and Japan’s F-X program. The aircraft will replace the Eurofighter Typhoon and Mitsubishi F-2.

In July 2024, BAE Systems began assembling the first prototype of the BAE Tempest. Assembly is expected to finish in 2026, with a first flight planned for 2027.

Canada is preparing to join the program as an observer, a step toward a potential future partnership that could include aircraft purchase or production involvement.

Australia, Sweden, Poland, and Germany have also expressed interest in GCAP, as the European FCAS program faces disputes between France and Germany, while the US F-47 project has not yet advanced in allied discussions.