UK, Italy and Japan begin development of the GCAP fighter
Estimated appearance of the GCAP fighter
The UK, Italy and Japan have announced the launch of a joint program to develop a promising next-generation fighter, designated as the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP). A number of aircraft manufacturing and related organizations from three countries will be attracted to participate in the program, and by 2035 they should present a finished aircraft. It is assumed that the new project will ensure the modernization of the air force, as well as a positive impact on the development of industry.
Joint statement
The launch of the GCAP program was announced on December 9 in a joint statement by the governments of the UK, Italy and Japan. In an official statement, the countries declared their commitment to the ideals of democracy and "a world based on rules", and also recalled their long-standing close relationship. Now the three states are taking a new step in strengthening cooperation.
The countries are launching a joint development of a promising next-generation fighter. The aircraft, so far designated as GCAP, should appear by 2035. What it will turn out to be, what characteristics it will be able to show, and what its advantages will be, have not yet been reported. In addition, it is not specified what number the mentioned “new generation” has.
In this case, one of the goals of the project is indicated. It is planned to create a full-fledged aviation a complex that can become the basis for larger aviation systems. The latter, in turn, will be able to work effectively in "multi-domain" forces.
The participating countries are already ready to disclose the planned organizational measures and the resulting benefits. Thus, through the GCAP program, the three states plan to strengthen military, scientific and technical ties. With the help of the distribution of roles and the creation of new production cooperations, it is proposed to strengthen the military-industrial base of the countries. Especially for the new project, the participating companies will create new jobs.
Separately, it is noted that the joint project will not weaken the industry of individual countries. Their enterprises will retain the ability to independently develop and manufacture aviation equipment.
The main customers of the promising fighter will be the developing countries. It is also planned to enter the international market. The official statement says that the GCAP will be compatible with the forces and means of the United States and other countries of NATO, the Indo-Pacific region, etc. In general, it is planned that the project will become global and live up to its name.
Information from industry
Also on December 9, BAE Systems published a press release about the launch of the GCAP program, containing new interesting data. In particular, she pointed to a certain continuity of promising projects, and also revealed an approximate list of companies participating in the future development. In addition, they showed the hypothetical appearance of a promising fighter. The company's artists depicted GCAP aircraft over London and Rome, as well as Mount Fuji in the background.
BAE Systems recalled that since 2018, the UK has been developing its own next-generation project called Tempest. In addition to BAE itself, Leonardo UK, MBDA UK and Rolls-Royce are involved in the work - such an association is called Team Tempest. Potential participants of the GCAP program from two other countries are also named. Italy will be represented by Avio Aero, Elettronica and Leonardo, while Japan will be joined by IHI Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries.
The British side notes that the basis of the joint GCAP project will be the developments under its own program. “The Tempest team has achieved some success in recent years, and their experience will be useful in the new program. At the same time, BAE Systems does not indicate how similar the two projects will end up being.
It should be recalled that Japan has a similar project for a promising fighter - FX or F-3 from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Now it is under development, and the first flight of an experimental aircraft is expected only in a few years. How the new GCAP program will affect the fate of FX is not yet reported.
Aircraft of unknown appearance
For obvious reasons, GCAP members are currently unable to provide any technical information. Even the preliminary study of the project has not yet begun, and even the most basic requirements remain uncertain.
However, curious illustrations are attached to the official announcements about the program. Perhaps they show current views on the appearance of the future aircraft. At the same time, it should be noted that the drawn fighter is similar to the previously presented British development projects.
Design appearance of the BAE Tempest fighter
In the form of a three-dimensional model, an aircraft of the "tailless" integrated layout is shown. The pronounced fuselage has a pointed nose cone and side air intakes. It is associated with a swept wing with a broken trailing edge. In the tail are keels collapsed outwards. The power plant includes two turbojet engines.
The GCAP developers have not yet disclosed the topic of electronic equipment and other equipment of the aircraft. Probably, the fighter will use the newest and most advanced devices, incl. do not yet exist or are being developed. What modes of operation they will receive will be known later. The same applies to approaches to management. It is quite possible that the GCAP, following recent trends, will be optionally manned.
An interesting statement was made by the leadership of the British branch of the Italian company Leonardo. It mentioned that the GCAP project may use so-called. integrated means of lighting the situation and a promising system of "battlefield control". More detailed information is not yet available.
The drawn aircraft have a smooth lower wing surface and do not carry weapons on an external sling. Probably, like a number of modern fighters, the GCAP should receive internal compartments for ammunition. The dimensions and capacity of such compartments cannot be estimated. Obviously, only promising ammunition will be included in the ammunition load, incl. only planned for development in the future.
Leonardo also mentions the possibility of introducing a fundamentally new weapons with "non-kinetic effects". Under this term, systems of directed energy - lasers or microwave weapons - can be hidden. Probably, the potential of such a system in the context of fighter aviation will be determined later, in the course of working out the optimal appearance of the aircraft.
Japanese F-3 fighter
The flight performance of the future GCAP remains unknown even to project participants. It is to be expected that the aircraft will be supersonic. At the same time, promising engines with increased thrust and improved efficiency will make it possible to make a long supersonic flight without the use of afterburner.
Bold plans
Thus, the three foreign states agreed to join forces to create a fundamentally new fighter aircraft with special characteristics and capabilities. In the coming years, they plan to conduct the necessary research and determine the shape of the future aircraft. Not earlier than the middle of the decade, full-fledged design will begin, and the finished GCAP will appear only by 2035.
Whether it will be possible to solve all the tasks, it is not known. The countries participating in the program have very limited experience in the development of modern aviation systems. So, they took some part in the American F-35 program, but they did not create their own 5th generation fighter projects. Whether the existing competencies and the potential for their development will be enough to create a “next generation” project is unknown.
However, the countries and companies participating in the program understand the complexity of the tasks set and seem to be ready for it. They intend to apply all the necessary conditions and develop both the fighter as a whole and all other components of a promising aviation complex. How justified such optimism, time will tell. However, it will take a long time to wait for the results - until the mid-thirties.
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