Archive · 8 Oct 2026
UK Open to Germany Joining GCAP Fighter Programme
The UK, Italy and Japan are working together to build a new fighter jet called GCAP.
British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the UK is open to Germany joining.
He said he had discussed this with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin.
The programme lets countries take part in different ways.
Canada became an observer in July.
Supporters say Germany could help share the costs.
Some executives worry that adding partners could slow the project down.
Japan is focused on having the jet ready to fly by 2035.
Prime Minister Andy Burnham said the UK is open to Germany joining the GCAP fighter programme.
Burnham discussed the possibility with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on Thursday, October 8.
GCAP is a partnership between the UK, Italy and Japan to develop a new fighter jet.
The programme allows different levels of involvement; Canada became an observer in July.
Supporters cite cost-sharing and Germany’s existing defence ties, while some executives warn new partners could cause delays.
- Who
- UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and the GCAP partner countries: the UK, Italy and Japan.
- What
- The UK said it is open to Germany joining the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a fighter-jet development partnership.
- When
- October 8; Burnham met Merz on Thursday. The report also says Canada became an observer in July.
- Where
- Burnham and Merz met in Berlin, Germany.
- Why
- The report says another partner could help share costs; Germany is also seen by some defence experts as a suitable partner because of its military budget and existing Eurofighter work with the UK and Italy.
Reasons to add partners
Concerns about adding partners
Costs and participation
Reasons to add partners
Supporters cited in the report say Germany could help share costs, and GCAP permits different levels of involvement. Italy has previously said it would be open to new countries joining.
Concerns about adding partners
The report says Japan may need convincing, and some executives have warned that adding partners could lead to delays.
Germany’s suitability
Reasons to add partners
Some defence experts view Germany as a suitable partner because of its growing military budget and its existing Eurofighter Typhoon work with the UK and Italy.
Concerns about adding partners
The report notes that Japan is particularly focused on the 2035 target, partly because it expects to begin retiring its F-2 fighters in the middle of the next decade.
- Programme
- Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a partnership to build a new fighter jet
- Founding partners
- UK, Italy and Japan
- UK position
- Open to Germany joining, according to Andy Burnham
- Meeting
- Burnham met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on Thursday, October 8
- Canada
- Signed up as an observer in July
- Target noted in report
- Japan is focused on GCAP being ready to fly by 2035
- Programme leaders
- BAE Systems, Leonardo and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries