Leonardo chief executive Lorenzo Mariani sees the Global Combat Air Programme’s sixth-generation fighter entering service a couple of years ahead of the current 2035 target, raising the prospect of an in-service date around 2033 if ministers’ push to accelerate the schedule is adopted. The trilateral UK, Italy and Japan programme remains in the detailed design phase, but industry partners are already discussing how to bring forward an initial operational standard without waiting for the full capability set.
The accelerated timetable would be achieved through an incremental approach, with an earlier baseline aircraft fielded first and additional capabilities added later. That would require some moderation of the initial requirements, enabling the programme to align development pace with operational urgency. GCAP recently secured a £4.6 billion contract for the next phase of work, covering detailed design and development through the Edgewing industrial structure involving Leonardo, BAE Systems and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co. The official target remains 2035, and no government decision has yet revised that baseline.