What Happened
Major Shift In Next-Generation Fighter Efforts Under Discussion
The UK and Germany are exploring the possibility of Germany joining the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a next-generation fighter effort led by the UK, Italy, and Japan. This development comes after Germany’s previous involvement in the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program with France and Spain, which collapsed due to industrial disputes. The potential addition of Germany to GCAP could bring significant industrial capabilities to the program, but also poses risks of disruption, as noted by industry partners. The GCAP program aims to develop a future fighter to replace the Eurofighter Typhoon and F-2 combat aircraft, with a planned service entry date of 2035. This was reported by Breaking Defense.