Italy demands equal weight in GCAP partnership

Italy has demanded equal treatment in the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) to develop a next-generation fighter jet with Britain and Japan by 2035.

Italy’s Defence Minister Guido Crosetto, a co-founder of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party, said Rome would make a final decision on how much to invest in the multi-billion-dollar project after more details have been defined.

“Italy can only continue along this path if it has the same weight as Japan and Britain on technology, research and later, if it comes to that, on the results,” he said in an interview, adding that he wanted a “33%-33%-33%” breakdown.

The three nations announced the GCAP venture this month to develop a next-generation jet which would combine the British-led Tempest project with Japan’s F-X programme.

The partnership came as France, Germany and Spain moved forward with a rival plan to build a warplane in a broad European bid to strengthen security against the backdrop of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

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Crosetto said there should be no bar on joining forces with the rival European programme, adding that the GCAP should also aim to find new partners, especially within Europe.

“I think the challenge is to accelerate significantly the research and technology part and then become attractive to other nations in the next two or three years,” he said.

Britain’s BAE Systems PLC, Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Italy’s defence group Leonardo will lead the design of the aircraft, with European missile maker MBDA and other companies also participating.

Reuters/Zainab Sa’id