Edgewing secured a £4.6 billion 18-month contract from the GCAP Agency to complete the advanced concept and assessment phase and initiate joint detailed design for the sixth-generation fighter. Awarded on 3 July 2026, this second international contract follows an initial £686 million award in April and locks in key requirements through 2027. The trilateral partnership between the UK, Italy, and Japan accelerates development toward a 2035 service entry, replacing aging fleets like the Eurofighter Typhoon and Mitsubishi F-2. Funding resolves prior delays that triggered defence official resignations and secures jobs across all three partner nations.