The Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) sixth-generation fighter project is advancing to its next phase of development with new funding from partners Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom through the end of 2027.
The massive new contract, announced on July 3, 2026, will provide the next step in finalizing the design requirements and capabilities of the next-generation aircraft. This bridges the gap with this new contract following the award of an initial £686 million contract in April 2026 to Edgewing, a joint venture that will act as overall contractor and design authority.
The announcement of the contract, which was funded by all three GCAP partners – the UK, Italy and Japan – comes just days after the UK’s Defense Investment Plan (DIP) was announced. DIP has committed to continued funding for GCAP, designating £8.6 billion of UK funding for the program over the next four years. Some of these are likely to be for UK-funded elements of the project, including the Excalibur flight test aircraft and the Combat Air Flying Demonstrator, which are scheduled to be ready for flight by the end of 2027.
#GCAP took another major step forward today with a new £4.6 billion contract to support the delivery of next-generation stealth fighter jets.
Learn more about what this latest milestone means for our partner countries https://t.co/cELnhn4qJt
🇮🇹🇯🇵🇬🇧 @edgewing pic.twitter.com/ZOu6gZ5JsF
— GCAP (@GCAP_int) July 3, 2026
Rumors have been circulating in defense circles in recent days and weeks that a new deal has been signed with Edgewing ahead of this year’s Farnborough International Airshow (July 20-24). No doubt Edgewing and its various partner contractors will make more announcements at this year’s show, where we can get our first look at a full-scale mockup of the proposed fighter jet for 2024.
Luke Pollard MP, Secretary of State for Defense Preparedness, said: “The Global Combat Air Program will provide our pilots with cutting-edge stealth fighter aircraft. Signing a £4.6 billion contract with Italy and Japan is a significant step forward towards delivery. This milestone will strengthen our partnerships with international allies, support thousands of highly skilled jobs across the UK and give the RAF the tools it needs to keep the UK safe – all with a £8.6 billion commitment to defense investment. “It’s supported,” he said. “Plan.”
Japan, which had previously expressed concerns over Britain’s resolution to fund the project, was reported in local media as relieved by the new announcement.
We are proud to announce the award of a second joint international contract worth £4.6 billion to move the Global Combat Aviation Program (GCAP) forward. https://t.co/CHZ2xSJTHN pic.twitter.com/KAdEGYZtOD
— Edgewing (@EdgewingLtd) July 3, 2026
“On behalf of the three GCAP countries (Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom), we are pleased to have signed this international agreement. It will enable the GCAP Institute and Edgewing to continue to make great strides across all delivery areas. This program is essential for global security and defeating future threats while sharing costs, technological benefits and creating highly skilled jobs in all three countries,” said Masami Oka, CEO of the GCAP Agency.
“With this long-term funding, GCAP’s future is more secure than ever. I look forward to what we will achieve over the next 18 months and the opportunities we will create to further grow the program,” he added.
