Three countries and a shared secret in the air: The consortium shaping the future senses of the sixth-generation fighter jet without a missile as its main weapon.
In the offices of Reading, Italy, and Tokyo, an alliance is being woven that looks to the skies of 2035. This is not just a simple fighter jet: the GCAP promises to become the technological spearhead of three nations. Now, with a new consortium,
The Birth of G2E
In August 2025, the creation of was formalized, integrated by Mitsubishi Electric, Leonardo UK, Leonardo, and ELT Group. Although the initial announcement had been made at the DSEI Japan fair in 2023, the agreement has now been finalized.
Networked Intelligence as a New Weapon
. Its capacity lies in merging large volumes of data and processing them in complex environments, where seconds decide the difference between survival or downfall. , the leap is qualitative: it is no longer just about speed or firepower, but about information supremacy.
A Program with Unforgiving Deadlines
The G2E consortium will work under the coordination of Edgewing, the joint venture of BAE Systems, Leonardo, and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co., overseeing the global development of the GCAP. The goal does not allow for delays: and entry into operational service in 2035. The aircraft must remain relevant beyond 2070.
While system engineers fine-tune algorithms, in British hangars, the fuselage of the prototype is already assembled two-thirds of its weight. With a double-sloped tail, two engines, and a trimmed delta wing, it draws inspiration from the but with much greater ambition. Still without an official name, the design – possibly “Tempest” – is gearing up to become the flying laboratory of the coming decades.
Towards a Shared Sky
Is the materialization of a trilateral alliance seeking technological autonomy in the face of an uncertain global scenario. With G2E at the helm of the machine’s senses, the future sixth-generation fighter promises to be not only a weapon but a symbol of industrial and strategic cooperation.
