Italy has signaled support for potential German participation in the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), the sixth-generation fighter aircraft effort led by the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan. The move could reshape Europe's combat aviation landscape after the collapse of the rival Future Combat Air System (FCAS).

Leonardo Chief Executive Lorenzo Mariani said Germany would be a "particularly valid partner" for GCAP, highlighting the industrial expertise Berlin could contribute to the program. While he acknowledged that adding a fourth nation would require complex negotiations and could affect timelines, he argued that the long-term industrial and financial benefits could outweigh the disruption. GCAP partners aim to field the new fighter aircraft by 2035.

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GCAP continues its development intending to field a new combat aircraft by 2035 (Picture source: Leonardo)

According to Lorenzo Mariani, who was appointed chief executive officer of Leonardo in May 2026, the inclusion of a new partner in GCAP would present both challenges and opportunities. The three founding nations have already spent years establishing the program’s governance structure, industrial workshare, and technological responsibilities. Bringing in a fourth participant would therefore require a new round of negotiations to redefine existing arrangements.

In an interview published by the Financial Times on June 22, 2026, Mariani stated that German participation could temporarily slow certain decision-making processes but would also provide additional financial resources and industrial expertise. His remarks come only weeks after the termination of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), the next-generation fighter program involving France, Germany, and Spain. After years of disagreements between Airbus Defence and Space and Dassault Aviation over industrial leadership and technology-sharing arrangements, Berlin ultimately decided to withdraw from the project despite political efforts to preserve it.

For the head of Leonardo, the outcome was not unexpected. He argued that political support alone cannot sustain a program of this scale when industrial stakeholders fail to reach lasting agreement. Disputes over intellectual property, prime contractor responsibilities, and workshare distribution gradually weakened FCAS. By contrast, Mariani pointed to the experience of Leonardo, BAE Systems, and Airbus Defence and Space within the Eurofighter Typhoon program as evidence that multinational cooperation remains achievable when industrial objectives are aligned.

GCAP continues its development with the objective of fielding a new combat aircraft by 2035. The program is led by BAE Systems in the United Kingdom, Leonardo in Italy, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Japan. The three partners aim to develop an aircraft capable of operating in highly contested environments while incorporating a digital architecture designed to support rapid capability upgrades throughout its service life.

Information released so far indicates that the future aircraft will be equipped with a next-generation Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar capable of simultaneously detecting, tracking, and engaging multiple air and ground targets. The fighter is also expected to feature an open-architecture design that facilitates software updates and the integration of new weapons and sensors without extensive airframe modifications. In addition, its electronic warfare suite is intended to provide detection, identification, and jamming capabilities against threats operating within dense electromagnetic environments.

The aircraft is being designed around a collaborative combat concept that extends beyond the capabilities of current fighter fleets. Through secure data links and advanced sensor-fusion systems, it is expected to function as a central node connecting crewed aircraft, unmanned combat systems, and distributed sensors across multiple operational domains. This approach is intended to expand situational awareness, accelerate decision-making cycles, and improve force survivability. Planned integration with accompanying unmanned systems could also extend reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and strike missions while reducing direct exposure of the crewed aircraft to high-threat areas.

Germany’s potential interest in the program also comes at a time when questions have emerged in the United Kingdom regarding long-term funding commitments. Despite these discussions, Mariani expressed confidence that London would maintain its participation, citing the strategic importance of combat aviation to British defense policy and the preservation of national industrial capabilities.

At the same time, Leonardo is increasing its production capacity. The company is investing in the expansion of several industrial sites, recruiting additional personnel, and addressing constraints affecting parts of its supply chain. These efforts reflect a broader trend across the European defense sector as manufacturers respond to sustained demand for military equipment.

A German accession to GCAP would represent one of the most consequential changes in the European defense-industrial landscape since the program’s launch. It could contribute to concentrating financial and technological resources around a single next-generation combat aviation project while reducing duplication of investment efforts. As China, Russia, and the United States continue to modernize their air forces and expand advanced aerospace programs, the ability of European nations to coordinate industrial resources and technological development is becoming an increasingly important factor in maintaining strategic autonomy, defense competitiveness, and long-term military credibility.

Written By Erwan Halna du Fretay - Defense Analyst, Army Recognition Group
Erwan Halna du Fretay holds a Master’s degree in International Relations and has experience studying conflicts and global arms transfers. His research interests lie in security and strategic studies, particularly the dynamics of the defense industry, the evolution of military technologies, and the strategic transformation of armed forces.