Rome: Italy has indicated that more countries could be welcomed into the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a multinational effort involving Italy, Britain, and Japan to develop a next-generation fighter aircraft. Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto said expanding participation would help share development costs and strengthen the project’s prospects. He noted that Canada has shown interest in joining as an observer and would be welcomed by the existing partners.
GCAP is being developed through a joint venture involving Britain’s BAE Systems, Italy’s Leonardo, and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement (JAIEC), which is backed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. The partner nations aim to deliver the advanced combat aircraft by 2035, creating a next-generation platform designed to meet future defence requirements.
Crosetto also said Italy would be open to participation from countries such as Germany and Saudi Arabia, emphasizing that broader involvement could reduce costs and enhance technological collaboration. His comments come shortly after Germany and France abandoned their joint next-generation fighter project due to disagreements among participating defence companies, potentially creating new opportunities for cooperation within the GCAP programme.
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