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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.
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Reuters broke the news in New York, United States on Friday, July 3, 2026.
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