What Happened
Leonardo CEO Suggests Sixth Generation Fighter Could Enter Service Earlier
The Global Combat Air Programme’s sixth-generation fighter jet could enter service earlier than initially planned, according to Leonardo CEO Lorenzo Mariani. The targeted timeline of 2035 could be accelerated by a couple of years, with Mariani suggesting that requirements may need to be modulated to achieve an earlier entry into service. The GCAP program, led by Leonardo, BAE Systems, and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co., has recently expanded to include Canada as an observer, and other countries, including Singapore and Saudi Arabia, have expressed interest in joining. This development was first reported by Breaking Defense.