Italian industry secures its participation in the future 6th generation GCAP fighter project

The team of Italian companies that will participate in the development of the new Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) has signed a contract to support the Italian Ministry of Defense in the new concept and evaluation phase of the program and related demonstration activities.

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The team, led by Leonardo – as strategic partner – and composed of leading Italian companies in their respective fields: Elettronica, Avio Aero and MBDA Italia, will advance technological development in support of the GCAP «system of systems» concept, based on sixth-generation combat air platforms operating in multi-domain scenarios.

Industry will collaborate with universities, research centres, SMEs and start-ups, allowing for the exchange of knowledge and growth of skills at a national level, all in close partnership with the Italian Ministry of Defence. The Ministry will be responsible for defining operational needs and directing technological development, drawing on industry support.

In support of the GCAP programme, Italy has already earmarked 6 billion Euros for investment in research and development that will allow for the launch of technology development projects in areas of strategic interest. These will allow Italy’s national industry to participate in the future development phases of the system-of-systems.

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This initiative is also laying the groundwork for further international collaboration in the development of technologies relating to sixth-generation combat air platforms by enhancing Italy’s national industrial competitiveness, its strategic autonomy and the academic and professional skills of current and future generations. In support of this goal, companies have already begun to invest in research, to activate collaborations with universities and to support technology incubators in the innovation sector by promoting the most promising ones nationally and internationally.

Global Combat Air Programme

The GCAP program is the result of the merger of the Japanese F-X program (Japan) and the FCAS/Tempest program of the United Kingdom and Italy, for a future generation air combat system to replace the Mitsubishi F-2 and Eurofighters from 2035 onwards.