Latest news with #GCAP
Yahoo
11-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Next-gen GCAP warplane faces time pressure amid American F-47 plans
ROME — The under-development GCAP fighter and the newly launched American F-47 can be cogs in an integrated allied system of fighters and not competitors, a European official has said. 'The F-47 will be principally a U.S. fighter and not a competitor to the GCAP,' said Italian Air Force Gen. Giandomenico Taricco, who is working on the Anglo-Japanese-Italian GCAP program. 'What we want is for the GCAP to be interoperable with the F-47, to make them two elements in an integrated system,' said Taricco, who is commercial and corporate director at GIGO, the intergovernmental agency running the sixth-generation GCAP program. The U.S. signaled its arrival in the sixth-generation market in March when President Donald Trump said Boeing would develop the F-47 which could be fielded by the end of the decade. That would give it a head start on the GCAP plane, which is not expected to be delivered until 2035. Trump reportedly discussed the F-47 with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba last month. '(Trump) said the United States has such great fighter jets and asked Ishiba if he would like to take a look at them,' wrote Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun, quoting unnamed sources. Japan joined GCAP to be able to co-own the technology on board the plane, something it would be less able to do with an equivalent U.S. jet. But there are growing reports Japan is unhappy with the time needed to develop the GCAP as neighbor China threatens its airspace with advanced fighters such as the planned sixth generation J-50. Last month Reuters reported Japan was dubious GCAP would achieve its planned 2035 in-service date and was considering ordering more F-35s as a gap filler. Taricco told Defense News that Italy and the U.K. shared Japan's sense of urgency about keeping GCAP on schedule and even shortening the schedule. 'The Japanese are extremely motivated to accelerate the program and rightly so, as are we,' he said. 'We all share the urgency and everyone is putting pressure on,' he added. Taricco, who has formerly worked on Italian Air Force acquisitions including U.S. Gulfstream sensor jets, is one of two directors at the U.K.-based GCAP International Government Organisation (GIGO) which teams the three government customers on the program. He is joined by program and technical director Phil Brooker, a British former air vice-marshal. They both report to Japanese chief executive Oka Masami, who was appointed for three years when the agency was stood up last year. At the same time, an industrial joint venture was announced, teaming BAE Systems, Italy's Leonardo and Japan's JAIEC which is jointly funded by Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and the Society of Japanese Aerospace Companies. Taricco said the joint venture would open for business 'within weeks' and be based in the same building as GIGO at Green Park in Reading, close to London. 'The combined staff of the joint venture and GIGO there will be around 1,000 within 12-15 months,' he said. Taricco said a first international contract will be signed by GIGO with the joint venture by the end of 2025 while GIGO will then likely sign a design and development contract with the joint venture 'by the end of 2026 or the start of 2027.' Planners envisage the fighter operating alongside drones, although work on unmanned platforms remains a national prerogative and no schedule has been set for including unmanned platforms in the work undertaken by the joint venture, Taricco said. He said that export was a 'fundamental part of the cooperation program,' adding that talks to bring in new partners such as Saudi Arabia are being handled at national government level. 'At the moment, GIGO does not have direct contacts with possible partners,' said Taricco.
India.com
08-06-2025
- Business
- India.com
What's Trump Hiding? Japan's Game-Changer Jet Faces F-47 Sabotage Plot
New Delhi: Stirring fresh controversy, U.S. President Donald Trump has allegedly put pressure on Japan to abandon its advanced sixth-generation fighter jet program. According to a report by Japanese newspaper Asahi Shimbun, Trump unexpectedly called Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru and pushed him to consider buying the American F‑47 jet. This is the same Washington that once refused to sell its F‑22 fighter jet to Tokyo, citing its sensitive technology. The world is now racing to develop sixth-generation fighter aircraft. India, Japan, Russia, China, the United States and several European countries are in the race. Japan among them has taken the lead. Through its Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), Japan is working with Italy and the United Kingdom to build a next-gen jet. The country is known for its advanced technology – something even the United States acknowledges. But now, Trump's direct intervention has raised eyebrows. The report says he spoke to Ishiba about his recent Middle East trip. Then, suddenly, he started talking about the F‑47. He praised the aircraft and even told the Japanese prime minister that '47 is a lucky number'. The US president urged Japan to buy the jet. He also praised the F‑22, which Japan had long wanted but was denied. Following this, Trump brought up the F‑55 – a newer and twin-engine version of the F‑35 stealth fighter. He asked Ishiba if he would like to see 'the best fighter jet America has'. 'We will give Japan the best,' he has been quoted by the newspaper as saying. However, it remained unclear what exactly Trump meant. Later, Japanese officials confirmed Trump had simply asked if Japan was interested in buying U.S.-made jets. Reports suggest the United States wants to sell a slightly downgraded version of the F‑47 to close allies. Trump had previously joked that allies call often, wanting the F‑47, and that the United States gives a 10% discount 'because who knows if they will stay allies?' At present, Japan operates the F‑35 and may expand its order. It has also shown interest in the U.S.-made C‑17 Globemaster III transport plane. However, Japan is already developing its own sixth-gen fighter under GCAP. So, Trump's sudden push for the F‑47 has raised suspicion. Italy, the United Kingdom and Japan agreed in 2022 to jointly build a sixth-gen fighter jet using cutting-edge technology. This led to the creation of GCAP. The project is massive, with a budget between $40-50 billion. But it has faced criticism in Japan's parliament due to rising inflation and a shrinking welfare budget. Is U.S. Trying to Undermine GCAP? Some defence analysts believe that the United States wants to disrupt the GCAP. Many European nations are supporting this project. If it succeeds, America could lose buyers for the F‑47. That would hurt the U.S. defence industry and weaken its influence. If Japan chooses the F‑47, the GCAP may lose credibility. But if Japan stays with the GCAP, it could be a diplomatic blow to the United States, especially since Tokyo is seen as a key pillar in the QUAD and the Indo-Pacific strategy. The United States might offer financial incentives and easier deals for the F‑47, but experts warn it could be a short-term gain and a long-term loss. Japan's decision will influence many other nations, including India, which is also developing its own jet under the AMCA project. If Japan sticks with the GCAP, it may inspire India to pursue a more balanced and independent defence strategy.
South China Morning Post
08-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
As Japan clamours for new fighter jets, UK-Italy GCAP delays test Tokyo's patience
At an airbase outside Tokyo, engineers inspect the ageing F-2 fighters that have patrolled the Japanese skies for decades. But with China's newest stealth jets roaming ever closer, and the promised future of air defence still years away, Japan is growing restless. Its partnership with Britain and Italy to build a next-generation fighter has hit turbulence – and Tokyo may no longer be willing to wait. The sixth-generation fighter, part of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), is slated to enter service with all three nations by 2035. But development is reportedly lagging, with the first demonstrator flight now delayed until 2027 – a setback that has alarmed Japanese officials and defence analysts. An artist's impression of the GCAP fighter released in 2022. Photo: UK Prime Minister's Office / AFP Unlike the UK and Italy, which can continue to rely on the Eurofighter Typhoon well into the 2040s, Japan faces a far more immediate need to modernise its fleet, according to experts.
Yahoo
30-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Trump Offers F-47 Sixth-Gen Fighter To Japan: Reports
Boeing's F-47 sixth-generation stealth fighter has been pitched to Japan by U.S. President Donald Trump, according to reports. The idea of an export-configured F-47 was brought up by Trump when he announced Boeing's win in the U.S. Air Force's Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) manned combat jet initiative in March. Meanwhile, Japan is reportedly also considering increasing its purchase of F-35 fifth-generation stealth fighters, prompted by concerns over the timeline for the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP), a sixth-generation combat jet being pursued jointly by Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom. A possible sale of the F-47 to Tokyo was raised during a phone call between Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba last week, according to a report from the Japanese daily newspaper Asahi Shimbun. According to this source, the short-notice call was confirmed by Ishiba administration officials and came just before a visit to the United States by Ryosei Akazawa, Japan's top trade negotiator, for talks on Trump's economic tariffs. Trump and Ishiba are said to have discussed the strengthening of the U.S.-Japanese military alliance, with the U.S. leader asking whether the Japanese prime minister agreed that '47' is a good number. The new Boeing fighter received the Mission Design Series designation F-47, echoing the fact that Trump is the 47th U.S. president. The Asahi Shimbun also reports that Trump praised the F-22 Raptor and the so-called F-55, a purported development of the F-35 that the U.S. president first mentioned while talking to the press earlier this month. Trump has described the F-55 as a twin-engined F-35, but there has been no confirmation from the manufacturer or the Pentagon that such an aircraft is in the works. According to Japanese officials, Trump asked whether Ishiba was interested in U.S.-made fighters and promised to get 'the best' for Japan. The same officials noted that the offer of buying U.S. combat jets was not tied to any tariff negotiations. At this stage, there's no sign that Tokyo is actively looking to add a new type of fighter jet to its inventory, although earlier this year, Ishiba did disclose an interest in buying C-17 Globemaster III transport aircraft from the United States. With Boeing's C-17 production line now shuttered, any such aircraft would have to be transferred from the U.S. Air Force or from an allied operator inventory. Officially, at least, Japan is still committed to the GCAP program, which aims to field a sixth-generation crewed fighter, which is known in the United Kingdom as Tempest. You can read more about what we know of this aircraft and its planned capabilities here. However, there are now indications that Japan may be concerned that the Tempest fighter will not be ready for service soon enough for its requirements. Citing two unnamed defense sources, Reuters reports today that Japan is looking at ways of filling a gap in its fighter fleet pending the likely delayed arrival of GCAP. One of those sources blamed a lack of urgency on the part of Italy and the United Kingdom for the slow pace of the GCAP initiative, while the other noted it was taking too long to align each country's concept of how the aircraft will operate. A British Ministry of Defense spokesperson told Reuters that: 'The United Kingdom, Italy and Japan are focused on delivering a next-generation combat aircraft for 2035 and we are making strong progress.' Recently, however, at least one senior British official in the GCAP team has mentioned the goal for Tempest replacing the U.K. Royal Air Force's Typhoon in the 2040s. The first option for Japan involves buying additional F-35s. Already, Japan is the largest overseas customer for the aircraft. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) is in the process of introducing 147 Joint Strike Fighters, in the form of 105 conventional takeoff and landing F-35As and 42 short takeoff and vertical landing (STOVL) F-35Bs. The STOVL jets will go aboard Japan's two Izumo class helicopter carriers, which have been modified to operate F-35Bs. Reuters reports that senior officials in Tokyo are now discussing the possibility of buying more F-35s, although the numbers involved are unclear. Currently, Japan has received 43 F-35As, while six F-35Bs have been delayed. Overall, delays in F-35 deliveries related to the introduction of critical upgrades have impacted the program significantly, and it's unclear how quickly the aircraft could be provided to Japan, even if they were to be ordered imminently. 'We have already paid for many items, and they haven't arrived,' a senior lawmaker from Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party told Reuters about the current F-35 delays. 'It's not right to be told to buy more when previous orders haven't been fulfilled.' However, if Japan does opt for more F-35s, that could come with a potential economic advantage, serving as a bargaining chip for Tokyo amid tariff talks with Washington. 'Japan's purchase of defense equipment would contribute to the U.S. trade surplus, so in that sense, it could be considered [in trade talks],' Ryosei Akazawa told reporters yesterday. The second option is to upgrade Japan's existing fourth-generation fighters. These comprise around 85 Mitsubishi F-2s and approximately 200 F-15Js. Already, 68 of the F-15Js have been earmarked for a long-awaited upgrade that will take them to F-15JSI Japanese Super Interceptor standard with the addition of new radar, electronic warfare systems, weapons, and possibly more. An upgrade to the F-2s would be a new development, but it would help ensure combat air capability until the arrival of the GCAP. However, were Japan to buy more F-35s, that could threaten the future of its involvement in GCAP altogether, and if the Japanese were to leave the program, it's far from certain whether Italy and the United Kingdom would be able to continue without them. Even with Japanese participation, there are questions about the feasibility of GCAP, not least because of the enormous pressure on the U.K. defense budget with various other big-ticket programs competing for funds. Provided that Trump's tentative offer of F-47s for Japan is firmed up, that would provide another route for Japan to acquire a sixth-generation fighter, on a similar or potentially more favorable timeline than GCAP. The F-22 was never offered for export, on account of the sensitive nature of its technologies, as you can read about here. But it seems increasingly likely that the F-47, or a version of it, might be sold. As one of America's closest military allies, Japan would be well-positioned to buy it, should it be offered. When announcing the F-47 contract award, Trump said that U.S. allies 'are calling constantly' with a view to obtaining an export version of the NGAD fighter. He said that the United States would be selling them to 'certain allies … perhaps toned-down versions. We'd like to tone them down about 10 percent, which probably makes sense, because someday, maybe they're not our allies, right?' For Japan, or any other potential export customer, the big problem is likely to be the cost, with the baseline F-47's unit cost expected to be at least twice that of an F-35, or in the $180 million to $200 million range, based on publicly available information. On the other hand, a somewhat downgraded NGAD crewed fighter, which should also be notably cheaper, could be a very interesting option for Japan, as an alternative to GCAP. It would give Japan the chance of operating America's top fighter, something it was never allowed to do with the F-22. It would also allow the JASDF to integrate more seamlessly with its U.S. counterparts, which is even more important than for European allies. Moreover, it could open the door to other export opportunities, notably Australia, which is increasingly cooperating with both the United States and Japan. For the U.S. Air Force, F-47 foreign sales would increase production numbers and could lower unit costs, as well as making maintenance less expensive. U.S. officials are already talking about different future iterations of the NGAD combat jet. The former Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Acquisition, Technology & Logistics, Andrew Hunter, recently suggested that the baseline F-47 might just be 'Increment 1' of the NGAD crewed combat jet initiative. An export-optimized increment would seem to make a lot of sense. On the other hand, buying more F-35s or F-47s would come with disadvantages, including reliance on the United States for operational support and sustainment at a time when even close allies are having doubts about the reliability of Washington as a strategic partner. With Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) having a major stake in GCAP, Japan will have sovereign control of the aircraft once it's delivered, meaning, for example, that it would be able to adapt or upgrade them without U.S. approval. Tokyo would also benefit from MHI's industrial partnership in GCAP, with revenues from every sale. For years now, Japan has been steadily increasing its military budget as it faces what its 2024 defense white paper described as 'the most severe and complex security environment since the end of World War II.' The three primary threats are identified as China's ambitions toward its southwestern archipelago, as well as Russian and North Korean missile and nuclear programs. While stepping away from the GCAP effort altogether would have considerable repercussions, far beyond Japan, further delays to that program might well force Tokyo to look at other options for its fighter force. Contact the author: thomas@
Japan Times
30-05-2025
- Business
- Japan Times
Japan frets over fighter rollout target and weighs stopgap options, sources say
Japan has growing doubts that its next-generation fighter project with Britain and Italy will meet a 2035 rollout target, potentially forcing Tokyo to plug air defense gaps with new U.S. F-35 stealth planes or upgrades to aging jets, two sources said. The joint Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) established in 2022 is falling behind schedule due to a lack of urgency from Britain and Italy, which could push deployment beyond 2040, according to one of the sources. Both sources, who have knowledge of Japan's air defense discussions, were not authorized to speak to media and declined to be identified. Japan will need to begin planning soon if the GCAP is delayed to ensure it has enough jets to counter Chinese and Russian planes that regularly probe its air defenses. While senior officials are discussing the possibility of buying more F-35s, it was not clear if specific numbers or a timeline are under consideration. A swift decision to acquire more Lockheed Martin F-35s at around $100 million each could be a bargaining chip for Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba in tariff talks with U.S. President Donald Trump. Japan's chief trade negotiator, Ryosei Akazawa, will hold a fresh round of tariff talks with U.S. officials on Friday in Washington. Ishiba is also expected to meet Trump for their second in-person meeting in June at the Group of Seven leaders' gathering in Canada. "Japan's purchase of defense equipment would contribute to the U.S. trade surplus, so in that sense, it could be considered (in trade talks)," Akazawa told reporters on Thursday ahead of his departure for the U.S. capital. In 2019, in a move lauded at the time by Trump, then-Prime Minister Shinzo Abe ordered 105 F-35s, making Japan the aircraft's largest overseas buyer with a total of 147 on order. In a sign that Trump may again welcome Japanese purchases of U.S. military hardware, the Asahi newspaper reported that in a phone call with Ishiba on May 23, he discussed Boeing's planned F-47 fighter jet and encouraged his Japanese counterpart to consider U.S. aircraft. GCAP is an effort by Japan and its two European partners to build a next-generation fighter free from the operational restrictions that often come with purchases of U.S.-made military equipment. For example, buyers are often not allowed to do upgrades and maintenance without U.S. permission. The project is being led by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Japan, BAE Systems in Britain and Leonardo in Italy. In Britain and Italy, GCAP will replace Eurofighter Typhoon jets that will be in operation until the 2040s. In Japan, it is meant to replace the F-2, a U.S. F-16 variant developed three decades ago by Mitsubishi Heavy and Lockheed Martin. Japan's concerns about a possible delay to GCAP's 2035 rollout stem from how much time is being taken to align each country's concept of how the aircraft will operate, said one of the sources. A spokesperson for the Japanese Defense Ministry's acquisition agency said the 2035 rollout target was unchanged, adding that the decommissioning of the F-2 is set to begin that year. "I am not aware of any plans to place additional orders for the F-35," he added. A British Ministry of Defence spokesperson said: "The U.K., Italy and Japan are focused on delivering a next generation combat aircraft for 2035 and we are making strong progress." The Italian Defence Ministry did not reply to a request for comment. Additional GCAP partners could include Saudi Arabia, which would bring funding and a lucrative market for the aircraft. Of the 147 F-35s Japan has ordered to date, 43 F-35As have been delivered while six F-35Bs, a short takeoff and vertical landing variant, have been delayed, making more purchases a contentious issue. Japan could instead opt to extend the operational life of its older F-2 fleet through upgrades. "We have already paid for many items, and they haven't arrived. It's not right to be told to buy more when previous orders haven't been fulfilled," a senior ruling Liberal Democratic Party lawmaker said, speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the issue.
