GCAP FIGHTER DESIGN TO FLY WITHIN FIVE YEARS, AS BAE EYES POTENTIAL EXPORT MARKET

Last month BAE Systems executives expressed confidence that the Global Combat Air Platform (GCAP), currently in development with Italy and Japan, will achieve its projected in-service date of 2035, with a 'manned, supersonic and low observable jet' demonstrator taking flight within the next five years. In addition, company leaders believe they can find an export market of 'several hundred' jets globally.

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Meeting with the media at BAE Systems' assembly plant in Warton, Lancashire, Herman Claesen, BAE Systems' Future Combat Air System Managing Director, called the international export of GCAP a 'key feature' in the wider FCAS effort. "This is a requirement endorsed by the UK Prime Minister in a joint leader statement in December 2022 for multiple reasons. If you look at Typhoon, you forge and encourage and strengthen international relationships through these programmes," he stated. "If we deliver solutions in 2035, we will be the first mover and one of the first western nations outside the US to deliver sixth-generation aircraft.

"We are in the middle of refreshing our export analysis to determine how many we can sell. That is being fed back into a concept phase which is also being done now and then we can offer solutions for export customers depending on what they need. But right now, our focus is on the tri-national requirements," Claesen said before suggesting BAE Systems could expect to sell 'several hundred' platforms beyond sales to the UK, Italy and Japan. "We need to confirm the exact numbers once we have gone through the analysis," he added, before noting that British, Italian and Japanese GCAP variants could be modified for certain international customers.

Claesen also said financial discussions regarding the capital expenditure of each member nation remain ongoing. "This is one of many conversations we are having as we speak. Outline Business Case 2 (OBC2) is next year and we will be seeking another level in confirmation then."