Italy’s Defense Minister: UK Not Sharing Technology Needed to Develop Sixth-Gen GCAP Fighter Jet

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto has criticized the United Kingdom for its unwillingness to share technology within the sixth-generation GCAP (Global Combat Air Program) fighter jet program.

The head of the department called excessive British secrecy “madness” that hinders successful cooperation between the UK, Italy, and Japan, according to Defense News.

Crosetto warned that the British’s secrecy plays into the hands of global opponents, calling it “a huge service to Russia and China.”

In his opinion, refusing to share data between allies at such a tense time is a strategic mistake that weakens joint defense capabilities.

This is the minister’s second public criticism of the UK. Earlier, he called on Britain to break down the “barriers of selfishness,” arguing that Italy and Japan had already opened up their developments to their partners. Crosetto now notes that the situation on the British side has not changed.

To set an example, the minister ordered the Italian company Leonardo to fully open its technologies to the project participants. He hopes that this step will force the British side to reconsider its policy for the sake of the program’s joint success.

Currently, the joint office in Britain is working on engines and sensors, and the partners plan to have the finished aircraft ready by 2035.

GCAP program

The GCAP program combines the national programs of three countries: Britain’s Tempest, Italy’s efforts based on Leonardo, and Japan’s F-X program. The promising aircraft is expected to replace the Eurofighter Typhoon and Mitsubishi F-2.

At the end of June, BAE Systems (UK), Leonardo (Italy), and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement (Japan) officially established a joint venture called Edgewing, which will develop the 6th generation GCAP fighter jet.

Edgewing will be responsible for the design and development of the new generation GCAP combat aircraft and will remain the body responsible for design throughout the product’s lifetime, which is expected to last until 2070.

The company will have joint teams working in each of the partner countries, and its headquarters will be located in the UK.

In July 2025, BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, and MBDA UK, in collaboration with the UK Ministry of Defense, unveiled the design of the Tempest 6th generation fighter prototype.