Britain's new Prime Minister. Sir Keir Starmer, see here with Dr Charles Woodburn, Group Chief Executive Officer of BAE Systems

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: BAE Systems, Leonardo, Mitsubishi GCAP - InternationalInternational - 2027

The latest GCAP concept has low observability at its heart, with more internal volume for fuel and payload than today's fifth-generation platforms

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: BAE Systems, Leonardo, Mitsubishi GCAP - InternationalInternational - 2027

Hitoshi Shiraishi (Senior Fellow, GCAP with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries) posing with the GCAP model. Japan supported the GCAP effort at Farnborough with its industry executives and even its Defence Minister, Minoru Kihara

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: BAE Systems, Leonardo, Mitsubishi GCAP - InternationalInternational - 2027

The Crewed Combat Air Demonstrator is in build, with more than half of the airframe by weight now in assembly. Innovative materials and manufacturing processes hold the promise of rapid progress

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: BAE Systems, Leonardo, Mitsubishi GCAP - InternationalInternational - 2027

The BAE Systems Hall at Farnborough was dominated by a life-sized 1:1 scale model of Tempest/GCAP, onto which various logos and graphics were projected. Over 1,000 suppliers are supporting the programme across three nations

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: BAE Systems, Leonardo, Mitsubishi GCAP - InternationalInternational - 2027

It is currently unknown what impact the Strategic Defence Security Review (due to be undertaken by the Labour government) will have on the programme, the results of which are due to be published in 2025
Some have suggested that the size of GCAP may indicate that performance and agility have been sacrificed. This is not the case, though the aircraft does have a payload, range and formidable sensing capabilities

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: BAE Systems, Leonardo, Mitsubishi GCAP - InternationalInternational - 2027

A CGI image of a GCAP fighter flying over Rome. Interestingly, Leonardo's CGI images sometimes show more external detail than similar images issued by BAE Systems

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: BAE Systems, Leonardo, Mitsubishi GCAP - InternationalInternational - 2027

The ambitions of the GCAP team are stoked by the threat picture that the partners are facing. There is a constant 'ratchet of the bar' in terms of the threat and the battlespace which threatens the viability of today's combat air platforms. The GCAP partners are building a complementary platform that will build on the value and competence of the F-35 and that can raise the bar enough to ensure continuing air dominance

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: BAE Systems, Leonardo, Mitsubishi GCAP - InternationalInternational - 2027

The partners say that they are rapidly homing in on the final configuration, but what makes GCAP a potential world-beater is what goes inside. Leonardo gave a little more detail about sensor integration at Farnborough

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: BAE Systems, Leonardo, Mitsubishi GCAP - InternationalInternational - 2027

The case for GCAP is compelling, but short-termism and budgetary constraints could threaten progress. One hopes that whoever is responsible for the landing gear draws up something sturdier than the one shown in this CGI image!

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: BAE Systems, Leonardo, Mitsubishi GCAP - InternationalInternational - 2027

Самолёты на фотографии: Aircrafts on the photo: BAE Systems, Leonardo, Mitsubishi GCAP - InternationalInternational - 2027