In recent years, several voices have called for a convergence of the Future Air Combat System [SCAF]led by France, Germany and Spain, with Tempest, a project started by the UK and joined by Italy, with Sweden in an observer role.
“It is not certain that Europe can afford two competing air combat systems of the future, with a necessarily narrower export base than if there were only one program,” Senators Hélène Conway-Mouret and Ronan Le Gleut had indeed put forward in a report on SCAF released July 2020.
Former General Delegate for Armaments [DGA], Joël Barre, had said on several occasions that he hoped for a “convergence” between these two European programmes. “Maybe we go different ways. I hope we will merge at some point,” said General Ingo Gerhartz, head of the Luftwaffe. And his Italian counterpart, General Luca Goretti, had even dared to predict a merger between SCAF and Tempest, believing it was “unthinkable” to invest “financial resources in two equivalent projects”.
Only the United Kingdom simultaneously turned to Japan, which for its part had just begun development of the F-3, a sixth-generation aircraft intended to replace the F-2 and largely inspired by the F-16 by Lockheed-Martin. For its program, Tokyo said it was looking for partners… Hence the discussions about “technological” collaboration with London.
These culminated in December 2021 with the signing of a “protocol of cooperation” aimed at developing a “new generation fighter engine demonstrator”, with Rolls Royce invited to work with Ishikawajima-Harima heavy industry [IHI]. Then, a few weeks later, London and Tokyo announced another partnership, this time for the “Jaguar” electronic warfare suite that would be shared between the Tempest and the F-3.
However, at the Farnborough Airshow last July, the British Ministry of Defense [MoD] suggested that cooperation with Japan would be even more ambitious… And it will be.
In fact, on December 9, the United Kingdom, Italy and Japan announced their intention to develop a “new generation combat aircraft” under a program called the Global Combat Air Programme. [GCAP]. The Tempest will definitely merge with the F-3. BAE Systems, Leonardo and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will play a leading role.
“By partnering with Italy and Japan in the next phase of the programme, the UK […] will share the cost and ensure that the Royal Air Force [RAF] remains interoperable with our closest partners. The project aims to create high-skilled jobs in all three countries, strengthen our industrial base and drive innovation with benefits that go beyond purely military uses.
“We are determined to defend the free, open and rules-based international order, which is more important than ever at a time when these principles are being questioned and when threats and attacks are increasing,” the countries said a joint press release. “Given the critical importance of defending our democracy, economy and security and protecting regional stability, we need strong defense and security partnerships, underpinned and reinforced by credible deterrence,” they added.
In addition, this new generation fighter aircraft, which will be at the heart of a “system of systems” combining “drones, advanced sensors and advanced weapons”, must in particular be “interoperable”, approved by the “states – United and NATO “, as well as from other “partners” in Europe and the Indo-Pacific.
However, the details of this unprecedented alliance have not been specified, except that a development phase will start in 2025 with the goal of flying this new fighter aircraft by 2035. In addition, the GCAP program may be open to other countries that wish to join. Like Sweden for example. Or even… the United States.
Indeed, in a joint statement with Japan’s Defense Ministry, the Pentagon emphasized that the United States “supports Japan’s security and defense cooperation with like-minded allies and partners, including the Kingdom of Japan.” his next fighter plane. And to add: “Together, we have begun an important collaboration through a series of discussions on autonomous systems capabilities that could complement the next Japanese fighter jet program, among other platforms. In this context, the two parties have agreed to start concrete cooperation next year.”
Artwork: Leonardo