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UK, Italy, Japan award £4.6 billion contract to advance GCAP fighter jet
The 18-month deal will move the sixth-generation fighter into detailed design after the U.K. approved £8.6 billion in funding, officials said.
On Friday, Japan, Italy, and the U.K. awarded a £4.6 billion development contract to Edgewing, the industrial consortium building the next-generation GCAP stealth fighter.
This award follows the recent publication of the U.K.'s Defence Investment Plan, which confirmed £8.6 billion in funding over four years to support the program's concept and design phases.
Running from July 1, 2026, to December 31, 2027, the 18-month contract enables Edgewing to complete the advanced concept and assessment phase alongside detailed design and development work.
U.K. defense procurement minister Luke Pollard called the contract "a major step forward towards delivery," noting it strengthens international partnerships and supports thousands of highly skilled jobs.
Launched in 2022, the GCAP program targets a 2035 delivery date to replace the Typhoon in RAF service and Japan's F-2 fleet, addressing emerging global security threats.