Page 7 - FARNBOROUGH AIR SHOW 2024 - DAY 2 | DAILY NEWS

GCAP Unveils Concept Model

One of the most eye-catching events on The new model, unveiled at Farnborough programme is immensely important for Italy,

Day 1 of FIA2024 was the unveiling of a International Airshow, shows notable prog- for Leonardo, including our UK-based busi-
new concept model of the next generation ress in the design and concepting of this ness, and for wider Italian industry. GCAP
combat aircraft by UK, Italy and Japan. future fighter jet. We’ll continue to test and represents the future of combat air in a
evolve the design, as we move closer to- System of Systems perspective for our gen-
Exhibiting at the show together for the wards the next phase of the programme,” erations to come,” noted Guglielmo Maviglia,
first time, the three Global Combat Air said Herman Claesen, Managing Director Chief Global Combat Air Programme Officer,
Programme (GCAP) government part- - Future Combat Air Systems, BAE Systems Leonardo
ners, and their lead industry partners
BAE Systems (UK), Leonardo (Italy) and The combat aircraft, set to be in service The programme is hugely significant for
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Japan) are in 2035, will be one of the world’s most the security, political and economic pros-
showcasing the significant strides they are advanced, interoperable, adaptable and con- perity of each nation and through effective
making to progress the delivery of a truly nected fighter jets in service, boasting an in- knowledge and technology transfer will help
next generation combat aircraft. telligent weapons system, a software-driven to evolve and deliver important sovereign
interactive cockpit, integrated sensors and combat air capability in each nation, for
The new concept model on display in Hall 5 a powerful next generation radar capable generations to come.
features a much more evolved design with of providing 10,000 times more data than
a wingspan larger than previous concepts current systems, giving it a battle-winning “MHI considers any project to be a valuable
to improve the aerodynamics of the future advantage. opportunity to deepen our knowledge. In
particular, since GCAP is a three-country
combat aircraft. joint development programme between
GCAP is a strategically important partner-
Engineers from across BAE Systems, ship, bringing together the governments of Japan, UK and Italy, we expect to obtain bet-
ter results and deeper knowledge than ever
Leonardo and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries the UK, Italy and Japan, and their respective before by combining the different cultures,
are working together under a collaboration industries, to collaborate on shared military experiences and knowledge of the three in-
agreement on the design and development and industrial objectives in the delivery of dustries involved. I also hope that this GCAP
of the future combat aircraft using a range a next generation combat air capability. programme, with the broad participation
of innovative digital tools and techniques, of Japan’s defence companies, will foster
including computer based modelling and “The pace of the programme is extraordi- innovation in the country’s industrial sector
virtual reality to evolve the aircraft’s design nary, building on a solid foundation and such as digital transformation, as well as
during its concepting phase. industrial legacy in each country and govern- the development of human resources in the
ment-led partnership. Since the treaty was field of science and technology,” Hitoshi
“In the 18 months since the launch of the signed in December 2023, the programme Shiraishi, Senior Fellow - GCAP, Mitsubishi
Global Combat Air Programme, we’ve been has seen strong commitment from each Heavy Industries
working closely with our industrial partners partner. Each brings different, but com-
in Italy and Japan under the collaboration plementary, qualities and requirements. GCAP is set to employ tens of thousands
agreement, and also with the three gov- We are now working closely together to of skilled people across the UK, Italy and
ernments, to understand and align require- exchange knowledge, address common Japan, growing industrial skills and tech-
ments for a next generation combat aircraft. challenges and achieve common goals. The nologies for the future.

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