UK-Japan-Italy Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) News & Analysis

[Hydroman]

Definitely putting emphasis on LO rather than agility but with thrust vectoring it will have some. They really want to carry a large fuel load. I agree Scott Kenny, London to Moscow for those vodka runs, that's the REAL fuel!

 

[Jemiba]

Folks, theme here is GCAP, so please stay with this theme, without straying too far OT.

 

[zen]

I think we can do better than F111.
VG takes up volume, and TF30 turbofan's s.f.c through the envelope wasn't that brilliant.

 

[momosir]

Before deciding to develop the F-3, Japan asked Lockheed Martin to submit an RFI that specified a combat radius of 2,200 km.

次期戦闘機、日本で5割超生産　日米同盟の基盤強化 - 日本経済新聞

日本が2030年をメドに導入する次期戦闘機を巡り、米防衛大手ロッキード・マーチンが防衛省に提出した開発計画が分かった。同社のF22を主体に改修し、日本企業に開発・生産の分担比率50%以上を認めた。「門外不出」とされたF22の技術を使った戦闘機でエンジンも含め日本企業主導にできれば、日米同盟と国内防衛産業の基盤強化につながる。【関連記事】次期戦闘機、価格抑制が課題　米の技術開示どこまでF22はレ

www.nikkei.com

 

[momosir]

The subsonic combat radius is 595 nm / 1100 km.
All that with a fuel fraction of around 0.29.
The F-35A achieves a combat radius of 760 nm with a fuel fraction of 0.38. Assuming similar levels of fuel consumption, GCAP would require a fuel fraction of around 0.6 for a 1200 nm combat radius.
That is not doable for a fighter. For comparison, the Sukhois have fuel fractions of around 0.35, the MiG-31 and the F-111 around 0.42. But the F-22 is fuel hungry and the F-35 is ... aerodynamically challenged. So GCAP surely will be more efficient. But enough to achieve a combat radius of around 1200 nm? Probably not.
Maybe a 1000 nm radius with a fuel fraction of ~0.42 is possible.

The Japanese government announced that the XF9-1 consumes 14% less fuel than the F119, which has roughly the same thrust.

 

[overscan (PaulMM)]

This topic is now a News & Analysis topic. This means posts need to be of actual news related to the GCAP program, or commentary and analysis relating to said news.

Speculation should be directed to here : https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/th...-combat-air-programme-gcap-speculation.45494/

 

[timmymagic]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1895144560344396173

View: https://x.com/Rotorfocus/status/1895144560344396173


Translation via Google
His Excellency Assistant Eng. Talal Al-Otaibi, meets with the Director General of Industry, Trade and Economic Security at the British Ministry of Defense, Avril Jolliffe, and discusses bilateral relations between the two friendly countries, and discusses cooperation in the field of technology transfer and localization, research and defense development in accordance with Saudi Vision 2030."

 

[FighterJock]

Is that Saudi getting ready to sign to join GCAP or is it still negotiations?

 

[Ares]

Japan will collaborate with AUKUS on developing AI technology for unmanned fighter jets.

It has been revealed that the US, UK and Australia security framework "AUKUS" has approached the Japanese government about cooperation regarding the operation of the next generation fighter jets that the Ministry of Defense and the Self-Defense Forces aim to start in 2035. The focus will be on joint research into artificial intelligence (AI) to be installed on unmanned aircraft that will fly alongside the next fighter jets. There is also an aim to compete in the field of advanced technology where China is focusing its efforts.

無人機登載のAI研究、日本に連携打診　米英豪｢AUKUS｣ - 日本経済新聞

防衛省・自衛隊が2035年の開始をめざす次期戦闘機の運用を巡り、米国、英国、オーストラリアの安全保障の枠組み「AUKUS（オーカス）」が日本政府に連携を打診していたことがわかった。戦闘機と一緒に飛ばす無人機に搭載する人工知能（AI）の共同研究を軸に据える。中国が力を入れる先端技術分野で対抗する狙いもある。AUKUS加盟国の防衛当局から24年末までに防衛省へ連絡があった。AUKUSが目的のひとつ

www.nikkei.com

 

[WatcherZero]

Trumps special envoy to Italy floats the idea of the US joining GCAP. Please tell him not to let the door hit him on his way out.

Trump associate floats idea of transatlantic warplane program

In an interview with Defense News, Paolo Zampolli said he had been discussing the idea of the U.S. entering the tri-nation Global Combat Air Programme.

www.defensenews.com

 

[Flyaway]

Trumps special envoy to Italy floats the idea of the US joining GCAP. Please tell him not to let the door hit him on his way out.

Trump associate floats idea of transatlantic warplane program

In an interview with Defense News, Paolo Zampolli said he had been discussing the idea of the U.S. entering the tri-nation Global Combat Air Programme.

www.defensenews.com

Somehow. I don’t know why but this seems a little unlikely…

 

[FighterJock]

LM, NG and Boeing would not like it if the US joined GCAP.

 

[ItalianAFDFail]

LM, NG and Boeing would not like it if the US joined GCAP.

not only that, the program documentation would make them forced to share info and bear responsability for failures, i apologize for the sentences of either yesterday or 2 days ago

 

[Kiltonge]

Definitely putting emphasis on LO rather than agility but with thrust vectoring it will have some. They really want to carry a large fuel load. I agree Scott Kenny, London to Moscow for those vodka runs, that's the REAL fuel!

Still perplexed by the vertical stabs though. TVC should be the final element in allowing them to be eliminated.

 

[Regio Ammiraglio]

Trumps special envoy to Italy floats the idea of the US joining GCAP. Please tell him not to let the door hit him on his way out.

Trump associate floats idea of transatlantic warplane program

In an interview with Defense News, Paolo Zampolli said he had been discussing the idea of the U.S. entering the tri-nation Global Combat Air Programme.

www.defensenews.com

Yeah no I think the probability of this happening will be less than 0 (especially since the entry of the USA in the programme will destroy the current fragile but extremely functional balance completely).

 

[timmymagic]

GCAP partner fleets in focus as Leonardo hints at initial 350-unit buy

Leonardo expects orders to be in place for 350 aircraft via the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) by the time of a new fighter's service introduction in 2035. We look at its partner nations' current fleet mixes.

www.flightglobal.com

 

[TomcatViP]

Interesting how few F-35 those have in effect...

 

[WatcherZero]

Is that Saudi getting ready to sign to join GCAP or is it still negotiations?

Being reported that Leonardo is about to offload its loss making 787 aerostructures business to the Saudis, its being framed as a way of gently introducing them into the aerospace manufacturing sector.

 

[Training_Dummy]

Do GCAP and SCAF find more European partners given the F-35 brick conversation?

 

[TomcatViP]

I am betting they are in not quite at the same price range. They are not even available before a decade. When every corner of Europe is screaming about rearming at a quick pace, that does not seem to be the righteous way.

 

[yeetmahboi]

I am betting they are in not quite at the same price range. They are not even available before a decade. When every corner of Europe is screaming about rearming at a quick pace, that does not seem to be the righteous way.

They do have multiple, extremely capable jets, even if these belong to a dated generation.

 

[timmymagic]

Do GCAP and SCAF find more European partners given the F-35 brick conversation?

Not partners now, all the serious countries for aviation industry are already involved with either one, with the exception of Saab for whom GCAP or SCAF is not the right platform.

In terms of sales to other European countries there is some potential, but a lot hinges on the ongoing security position into the 2030's. Most have made a jump to F-35 already, which should see them out to 2050.

 

[TomcatViP]

Saab will work with Dassault on their own CCA.

See where they were with a modular CCA seen on one late publication:

The Rainforest - The Rainforest

The Rainforest is Saabâs accelerator and lung for transformative innovation. We strive to defy the conventional by pioneering new technology, markets and businesses.

thernfrst.io

 

[Ares]

Detailed appearance of the JAGUAR (Japan and Great Britain Universal Advanced RF sensor) from a Mitsubishi Electric's document.





www.mitsubishielectric.co.jp/news/2025/pdf/0312-1.pdf

 

[had]

Interesting, not sure why but I was expecting a non-pivotable Aesa radar with additional side panels. I think, I saw this only as a compromise solution for the Typhoon (not able to add side panels this late) but they must be pleased with the outcome.

 

[yeetmahboi]

Probably decided that the problems involved with mounting RF-stealthy cheek arrays aren't worth it.

 

[Ainen]

Probably decided that the problems involved with mounting RF-stealthy cheek arrays aren't worth it.

Shouldn't be that big of a deal, and turning swashplate will certainly produce unfavorable angles.

Just a differently shaped footprint and use pattern, as well as significant savings. Su-57 cheek/rear arrays don't come cheap.

 

[timmymagic]

Guys remember JAGUAR is just a tech development programme....

The results will feed into the wider ISANKE and ICS programmes...

This isn't the radar that will be going in GCAP...

 

[damawo]

I suspect that there are some difference between IT-JP-UK.

The fighter system can be divide roughly into aircraft system (airframe?), engine system, and mission system from the word definition list.
Among these, We can confirm from second image that same aircraft system will be delivered to three nations through the joint development.

In the NGF engine system pd specification doc, there are text showing involving of IT and UK company but no word (or black masked?) indicating "for three nations" so far.
And this is same for the mission system (also no word showing joint work with IT and UK).

So at this moment, I think joint work for engine and mission system (jp's mission system and uk's ISANKEICS) are technical share or something like for compatibility.
(possibility of making 2 different engine is very low. However no confirmation from documents)

The word sometimes used "GCAP core platform" means this situation?


↑↓ from NGF(next generation fighter) prototype development program specification doc #3 .



BTW, they will start prototype production in this year(mid next FY year).
This schedule is same with the presented one at JA2024. So fixed?

https://www.meti.go.jp/shingikai/sankoshin/seizo_sangyo/kokuki_uchu/2024_001.html

https://www.meti.go.jp/shingikai/sankoshin/seizo_sangyo/kokuki_uchu/pdf/2024_001_03_00.pdf

(no English page yet)

 

[Broken]

I suspect that there are some difference between IT-JP-UK.

The fighter system can be divide roughly into aircraft system (airframe?), engine system, and mission system from the word definition list.
Among these, We can confirm from second image that same aircraft system will be delivered to three nations through the joint development.

In the NGF engine system pd specification doc, there are text showing involving of IT and UK company but no word (or black masked?) indicating "for three nations" so far.
And this is same for the mission system (also no word showing joint work with IT and UK).

So at this moment, I think joint work for engine and mission system (jp's mission system and uk's ISANKEICS) are technical share or something like for compatibility.
(possibility of making 2 different engine is very low. However no confirmation from documents)

The word sometimes used "GCAP core platform" means this situation?

View attachment 764492
↑↓ from NGF(next generation fighter) prototype development program specification doc #3 .

View attachment 764491

I'm a bit confused, the wording here is discussing "the contracting companies", which in this context refers solely to Japanese contractors, and the requirement of these Japanese contractors to work with their British and Italian counterpart companies. Unless you are referring to another page not posted here I can't see where these documents are saying some parts only involve the UK and Italy?


There's been some speculation on social media about different national variants, but none of this seems backed up by hard evidence.

 

[damawo]

I'm a bit confused, the wording here is discussing "the contracting companies", which in this context refers solely to Japanese contractors, and the requirement of these Japanese contractors to work with their British and Italian counterpart companies. Unless you are referring to another page not posted here I can't see where these documents are saying some parts only involve the UK and Italy?


There's been some speculation on social media about different national variants, but none of this seems backed up by hard evidence.

Thanks Broken! Sorry forget about engine from this part
> I think joint work for engine and mission system (jp's mission system and uk's ISANKEICS) are technical share or something like for compatibility.

For example, bellows part is for requirement for collaboration design of NGF engine.
Of course there is possibility that "for three nations" is just hidden in the mask. But haven't confirmed yet



If international work, they are listed like this(word #2 and #4)


This is document for mission system integration research and prototyping #3.
Old contract that was contracted before GCAP announcement.
FY 2024 is last year of program and it goes FTB test in next FY year(2025~). No sigh of international work from review at this time.

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rssystem.go.jp

Because the document of C-2 FTB for mission system says this is for NGF, I think R&P programm directrly goes prototyping for NGF.(of course masked part is important. however no need to hide Italy and UK? )

What I want to say is there are need to confirm for same engine and mission system for three countries and possibility of different mission system.

 

[WatcherZero]

Australia requested a brief on the GCAP which took place during the week of the Avalon Australian International Airshow. Air Vice-Marshal John Haly on the 27th of March said the brief was primarily from an interoperability perspective but they requested further information after the brief which will feed into the current review of Australia's aircraft mix which is considering partnering with or acquiring technologies from overseas, the review is being conducted by the government but the air force will provide input.

Australia confirms ‘informational’ meeting with GCAP fighter partners

The head of capability for the Royal Australian Air Force says his office received an informational briefing from the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) consortium - a trilateral initiative between the UK, Italy and Japan to develop a sixth-generation fighter.

www.flightglobal.com

 

[zen]

I'd have thought both the UK and Japan would be keen in Australia getting involved.

 

[FighterJock]

Same thinking here zen, plus you could add Canada into that mix too.