National industry lead contractors involved in the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) have announced the name of their Joint Venture (JV), Edgewing, which will produce the future fighter jet.
BAE Systems, Leonardo, and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Join Forces
The new enterprise comprises Britain’s BAE Systems, Italy’s Leonardo, and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement. Edgewing will „be accountable for the design and development of the next-generation combat aircraft and will remain the design authority for the life of the product, which is expected to go out beyond 2070,” according to a statement from BAE Systems.
Achieving Ambitious Goals and Setting New Benchmarks
The UK manufacturer noted that Edgewing will „play a central role in achieving the programme’s ambitious goals — including the in-service date of 2035 — while setting a new benchmark for trilateral industrial partnership across Europe and Asia.” The three industry partners will each retain an equal 33.3 percent shareholding in the JV.
Leadership and Operations
Marco Zoff, a former managing director of Leonardo Aircraft, has been selected as the first CEO of Edgewing. Operations and joint teams will be spread across each of the three partner nations, with the JV headquartered in the UK, aligning with the GCAP International Government Organisation (GIGO).
Replacing Legacy Aircraft
GCAP aims to replace the UK Royal Air Force and Italian Air Force Eurofighter Typhoons, as well as the Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-2 combat jets.
New Fighter Concept
The naming of the JV arrives 12 months after industry showcased a new concept of the future fighter, designed around a conventional delta wing shape, providing increased wingspan compared to previous iterations.
