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The Australian Defence Force has requested additional information regarding the international sixth-generation fighter Global Combat Air Program.
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Royal Australian Air Force head of air force capability, Air Vice-Marshal Nicholas Hogan, has confirmed that RAAF personnel met to discuss the program and requested more information during the Avalon Australian International Airshow.
The Global Combat Air Program, involving the UK, Italy and Japan, aims to develop a sixth-generation fighter for service by 2035 and expand to other international partners.
The combat aircraft is envisioned to become one of the world’s most advanced, interoperable, adaptable and connected fighter jets in service. It was designed to feature an intelligent weapons system, a software-driven interactive cockpit, integrated sensors and powerful next-generation radar.
As part of the joint development program, the GCAP airframe is expected to replace the Eurofighter Typhoon in British and Italian service and the Mitsubishi F-2 (an enlarged, Japanese-specific variant of the Lockheed Martin F-16) in Japanese service, respectively, with a flight demonstrator expected by 2027.
As a sixth-generation platform, the GCAP is set to incorporate a host of revolutionary technologies, including directed energy weapons, an augmented reality cockpit, biometric and psycho-analytical monitoring, artificial intelligence, and the capacity to partner with loyal wingman platforms. As a collaborative program, the original partners have identified the potential for further international collaboration drawing in Sweden, Germany, and Saudi Arabia, with the development program currently supporting approximately 9,000 jobs and more than 1,000 suppliers worldwide.
AVM Hogan reportedly confirmed that the RAAF had attended an informational briefing, which involved an understanding of how Australia might operate with the aircraft in combined international operations.
BAE Systems, Leonardo, and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co Ltd announced an agreement had been reached to form a new company under a business joint venture for the Global Combat Air Program in December last year.
