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The international consortium of Rolls-Royce (UK), Avio Aero (Italy) and IHI (Japan) announced a major expansion of their partnership to accelerate development of the power and propulsion system for the 

This marks the transition from national contracting to a fully integrated international collaboration, laying the foundation for detailed design and development of GCAP’s all-new fighter engine. 

An engine consortium for GCAP

The announcement builds on progress with the centreline GCAP engine demonstrator. Engineering teams from the three companies have already completed design iterations, initiated hardware procurement and tested a revolutionary new combustor using additive manufacturing and advanced cooling techniques.

The new collaboration agreement also enables the consortium to engage directly with  between BAE Systems, Leonardo and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co. (JAIEC), which leads GCAP’s systems integration.

“This new agreement is a pivotal step; it allows us to move from national programmes to a truly international, one-team approach,” said Phil Townley, Director Defence Aerospace – Future Programmes, Rolls-Royce.

 “By combining our complementary expertise, we’re accelerating technology breakthroughs in materials, manufacturing and design that will power GCAP and strengthen the defence industrial base across the UK, Italy and Japan.”

Executives from Avio Aero and IHI echoed this view, describing the propulsion consortium as not only central to delivering unmatched performance for GCAP but also a foundation for deeper aerospace collaboration across the three nations.

GCAP gets an electronics consortium too

Alongside the propulsion announcement, defence electronics leaders from Japan, the UK and Italy have also formed a consortium to deliver the aircraft’s advanced sensing and communications systems.

The new entity, GCAP Electronics Evolution (G2E), combines Mitsubishi Electric, Leonardo UK, Leonardo Italy, and ELT Group. 

It will design and develop the Integrated Sensing and Non-Kinetic Effects & Integrated Communications Systems (ISANKE & ICS), regarded as the “core differentiator” of GCAP, as well as manage long-term through-life support.

Based in Reading, UK, G2E will work in close proximity to Edgewing and the GCAP International Government Organisation (GIGO) to ensure alignment with government and integrator partners.

What is GCAP?

Launched in 2022, the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) is a trilateral initiative by the UK, Italy and Japan to deliver a 6th-generation combat aircraft by 2035. 

The programme aims to combine stealth, advanced sensors, AI, networked weapons and uncrewed teaming, ensuring continued air superiority in contested environments.

 is structured around government oversight through GIGO and industrial leadership via Edgewing. 

The propulsion consortium and G2E represent two of its most important industrial pillars, driving forward the technologies that will define the platform’s performance and differentiation.

For the partner nations, the dual announcements at DSEI underscore the transition from concept to detailed design and development across multiple domains of GCAP. 

Together, they signal how the UK, Italy and Japan are embedding long-term industrial collaboration to deliver a 6th-generation fighter jet.