GCAP international contract to be signed ‘by end of month', says UK government

A full-scale mockup of the GCAP aircraft was showcased at the Farnborough International Airshow 2024. The GIGO is now expected to award Edgewing the first full international contract in the coming days. (Janes/Sam Wise)

The full international contract for the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) will be awarded “by the end of the month”, the UK government said on 13 June 2026.

Disclosed during a trade visit to London by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, the impending milestone will see the governments of Italy, Japan and the UK contract Edgewing to fully progress GCAP from concept and assessment to the full design phase of the effort.

“During the meeting [in London], the prime ministers [of Japan and the UK] are expected to confirm their shared commitment to the Global Combat Air Programme, and discuss the launch of the next phase of the international programme, including through the international contract that will be signed by the end of the month,” the Office of UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said.

News of the imminent full contract came weeks after the GCAP Agency that is part of the GCAP International Government Organisation (GIGO) co-ordinating body awarded the Edgewing industrial consortium responsible for delivering the trilateral project a GBP686 million (USD907 million) bridging contract on 2 April 2026. The award covered key design and engineering activities, and was intended to enable the trilateral partnership to build momentum and accelerate the pace of delivery.

GCAP is a collaborative effort geared at fielding a ‘sixth-generation' combat aircraft for the mid-2030s, with associated unmanned ‘loyal wingmen' and other adjuncts to be developed at a national level.

For more, please see Governments award Edgewing first GCAP contract