UK, Italy and Japan sign £4.6 bn contract for sixth‑generation fighter jet

The United Kingdom, Italy and Japan have awarded a joint £4.6 billion (about $6.1 bn) contract to Edgewing, a venture of BAE Systems, Leonardo and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement. The deal advances the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), aiming to produce a sixth‑generation stealth fighter for service entry in 2035. The contract funds design‑definition work, key requirement setting and rigorous testing for the aircraft, which will operate alongside Typhoons, F‑35s and autonomous systems in the Royal Air Force.

British Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry Luke Pollard said the contract “strengthens our partnership with international allies, supports thousands of highly skilled jobs across the UK and will give the RAF the tools it needs to keep the UK safe.” The UK’s Defence Investment Plan backs the programme with an additional £8.6 bn over four years, protecting thousands of jobs and reinforcing the sovereign industrial base. The trilateral effort is intended to keep the partners ahead of competing sixth‑generation fighter projects, with a goal of fielding the new jet by 2035.