British company BAE Systems, Italian firm Leonardo, and Japanese organization Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement are establishing a joint venture called Edgewing, which will focus on developing a sixth-generation fighter aircraft under the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), reports Baltimore Chronicle with reference to the Edgewing press service.
Edgewing will serve as a central hub for the design and development of the next-generation combat aircraft and will play a leading role in implementing the GCAP roadmap, including the planned entry into service of the new fighters in 2035. The launch of the enterprise is also expected to set a new benchmark for trilateral industrial cooperation between Europe and Asia.
Marco Zoff, former Managing Director of the Leonardo Aircraft Division, has been appointed to lead Edgewing. He stated that by bringing together the strengths and talents of engineers from the UK, Italy, and Japan, the joint venture aims not only to build a next-generation combat air system but also to establish a new global standard of partnership, innovation, and trust.
The company will have operational headquarters and branches in each of the partner countries, with the main headquarters located in the United Kingdom.
Masami Oka, Director General of the international governmental organization GCAP, emphasized the significance of launching Edgewing as a major step forward in a truly international cooperative development program. He expressed confidence that this collaboration would help establish a new model of partnership based on mutual trust, integration, and a shared commitment to the future.
Earlier we wrote that U.S. unveils first next-gen unmanned fighter jets.