BAE Systems (UK), Leonardo (Italy), and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co (JAIEC) have signed an agreement to establish a new joint venture for the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).
The GCAP initiative, announced in December 2022, merges the UK’s BAE Systems Tempest program with Japan’s Mitsubishi F-X program. It aims to deliver a “system of systems” centered on a sixth-generation fighter jet.
This new joint venture will take responsibility for the design, development, and delivery of the combat aircraft and will serve as the design authority for the program throughout its lifecycle, which is expected to extend beyond 2070.
BAE Systems, Leonardo, and JAIEC will each hold a 33.3% stake in the joint venture. JAIEC itself integrates Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and the Society of Japanese Aerospace Companies.
Charles Woodburn, Chief Executive of BAE Systems, highlighted the strategic importance of the agreement:
“The new business will bring together the significant strengths and expertise of the companies involved to create an innovative organisation that will lead the way in developing a next generation combat air system, creating long-term, high value and skilled jobs across the partner nations for decades to come.”
The joint venture will maintain operations in the UK, Japan, and Italy, with its headquarters located in the UK. This positioning aligns closely with the GCAP International Government Organisation (GIGO), also headquartered in the UK, to ensure streamlined program delivery. Both entities will work towards achieving the program’s milestones, including the target for an in-service aircraft by 2035.