A new era for sixth-generation airpower began today with the launch of Edgewing, the tri-national industrial joint venture that will design and develop the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) fighter for the United Kingdom, Italy and Japan. Announced on the sidelines of the Paris Air Show, the company becomes the single industrial face of the program and will remain design authority for the aircraft throughout its life.
Edgewing is owned in equal 33.3 % shares by BAE Systems (UK), Leonardo S.p.A. (Italy) and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co. Ltd. (JAIEC). Former Leonardo Aircraft managing director Marco Zoff takes the helm as the venture’s first Chief Executive Officer. Governance will rotate among the shareholders; BAE’s Future Combat Air System chief Herman Claesen has been appointed the inaugural Board Chair.
Although teams will operate in all three nations, the headquarters is being established in the United Kingdom to keep Edgewing closely aligned with the new GCAP International Government Organisation (GIGO), which is also London-based. Manufacturing and final assembly will be subcontracted to BAE Systems, Leonardo, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and a wide network of supply-chain partners, ensuring workshare is spread equitably across Europe and Asia.
Edgewing’s immediate tasks include finalizing a unified preliminary design, harmonizing digital engineering tool-chains, and launching supply-chain competitions later this year. Government ministers from the three nations are expected to sign off the venture’s first multi-year development contract by early 2026, keeping GCAP on track for a first flight before the decade’s end.
A military history enthusiast, Richard began at Forecast International as editor of the World Weapons Weekly newsletter. As the Internet grew in importance as a research tool, he helped design the company's Forecast Intelligence Center and currently coordinates the EMarket Alert newsletters for clients. Richard also manages social media efforts, including two new blogs: Defense & Security Monitor, covering defense systems and international issues, and Flight Plan, which focuses on commercial aviation and space systems. For over 30 years, Richard has authored the Defense & Aerospace Companies, Volume I (North America) and Volume II (International) services. The two books provide detailed data on major aerospace and defense contractors. He also edits the International Contractors service, a database that tracks all the contractors involved in the programs covered in the FI library. More recently he was appointed Manager, Information Services Group (ISG), a new unit that encompasses developing outbound content for both Forecast International and Military Periscope.
