Farnborough 2024: GCAP partners reveal new concept design

The GCAP partners of Italy, Japan, and the UK have released new design imagery of the sixth-generation fighter that sits at the core of the project. (BAE Systems)

The three national partners on the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) have released a new concept artwork that appears to show a greater emphasis on speed, range, and payload over traditional dogfighting agility.

Italy, Japan, and the UK showcased the refined concept design at the Farnborough International Airshow 2024 running from 22 to 26 July, with the ‘sixth generation' fighter now featuring a pure delta planform in place of the previously touted modified delta.

“In the 18 months since the launch of the GCAP, we've been working closely with our industrial partners in Italy and Japan under the collaboration agreement, and also with the three governments, to understand and align requirements for a next-generation combat aircraft,” Herman Claesen, managing director, Future Combat Air Systems, for lead UK company on the project BAE Systems, said. “The new model … shows notable progress in the design and concepting of this future fighter jet. We'll continue to test and evolve the design, as we move closer towards the next phase of the programme.”

Claesen's compatriots at Italy's Leonardo and Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, echoed his comments on the rapid progress being made on the project since the GCAP agreement was signed in December 2023.