GCAP – Leonardo, BAE Systems, JAIEC form JV Company: London, 13 December 2024 – BAE Systems (UK), Leonardo (Italy), and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co Ltd (JAIEC) have reached a landmark agreement to form a new company under a business joint venture for the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). This agreement, subject to regulatory approvals, marks a significant step forward in the trilateral cooperation between the UK, Japan, and Italy on GCAP, which was established in December 2022.
The newly formed joint venture will assume responsibility for the design, development, and delivery of the next-generation combat aircraft. It will serve as the design authority for GCAP throughout the product’s lifecycle, which is projected to extend beyond 2070. BAE Systems, Leonardo, and JAIEC will each hold a 33.3% stake in the joint venture, combining their collective strengths and expertise to drive innovation in the international aerospace and defense industry.
Roberto Cingolani, Leonardo‘s Chief Executive Officer and General Manager, expressed enthusiasm about the agreement, stating, “This agreement is the result of an intensive journey made possible by pooling our mutual and shared experiences. This partnership not only enhances our technological capabilities but also reinforces our commitment to global security and innovation.”
In a statement sent to Defence Star, Cingolani further emphasized the potential of this collaboration to usher in a new era of aircraft systems and multi-domain scenarios, fostering sustainable growth for the economies of the involved countries.
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Italy-Japan-UK’s Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).
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Charles Woodburn, BAE Systems Chief Executive, echoed Cingolani’s sentiments, highlighting the culmination of extensive efforts and the strategic importance of the program. He stated, “Today’s agreement is a testament to the hard work of everyone involved in this strategically important program. The new business will bring together the significant strengths and expertise of the companies involved to create an innovative organization that will lead the way in developing a next-generation combat air system, creating long-term, high value and skilled jobs across the partner nations for decades to come.”
Kimito Nakae, President of JAIEC, acknowledged the challenges ahead but expressed confidence in the strength of trilateral cooperation. He stated, “As we now embark upon the exciting and important journey towards the success of GCAP, I acknowledge that the way might not always be simple and straightforward. However, I believe that through continuing the strong spirit of trilateral cooperation and collaboration that we have fostered up to this point, we will not only deliver the GCAP on time but also at a level that exceeds all of our expectations.”
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Roberto Cingolani of Leonardo (L), Charles Woodburn of BAE Systems (C), & Kimito Nakae of JAIEC.
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The new joint venture will establish operations and joint teams in each of the partner nations. It will be headquartered in the UK to ensure alignment and collaboration with the GCAP International Government Organisation (GIGO), which will also be headquartered in the UK. Both entities will work together to streamline program delivery and achieve the target in-service date of 2035.
GCAP is a significant program for the security and economic prosperity of each nation involved. Through effective knowledge and technology transfer, it aims to evolve and deliver sovereign combat air capabilities for generations to come.
The joint venture is expected to be operational by mid-2025. It will be responsible for the design and development of the GCAP aircraft, while outsourcing manufacturing and final assembly to BAE Systems, Leonardo, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and other suppliers. 1 The program is designed to distribute design, development, manufacturing, and production work evenly across the partner nations. The first CEO of the joint venture will be from Italy.
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