**Subject: GCAP Fighter and F-47 Integration**
**Location:** Rome
A European official has indicated that the under-development Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) fighter and the newly launched American F-47 can function as integrated components of an allied fighter system rather than being seen as competitors. Italian Air Force General Giandomenico Taricco, involved with the Anglo-Japanese-Italian GCAP program, emphasized, “The F-47 will be principally a U.S. fighter and not a competitor to the GCAP.”
General Taricco expressed the intention for the GCAP to be interoperable with the F-47, envisioning them as complementary elements within an integrated defense lineup. Taricco serves as the commercial and corporate director at GIGO, the intergovernmental agency overseeing the sixth-generation GCAP initiative.
The U.S. marked its entry into the sixth-generation fighter market in March when President Donald Trump announced that Boeing would develop the F-47, projected for deployment by the end of the decade. In comparison, the GCAP is not expected to achieve its first delivery until 2035, giving the F-47 a significant head start.
In discussions last month, President Trump reportedly showcased the F-47 to Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, highlighting the United States’ advanced fighter jet capabilities. Japan joined the GCAP to co-own the underlying technology, providing more control over its development compared to engaging with an equivalent U.S. aircraft.
Concerns have emerged in Japan regarding the timeline for the GCAP’s completion due to increasing threats in the region, particularly from China’s development of the sixth-generation J-50 fighter. Recent reports suggest that Japan may pursue additional F-35 purchases as a stopgap measure, despite the GCAP program’s urgency.
General Taricco confirmed that Italy and the U.K. share Japan’s commitment to maintaining the GCAP schedule and are considering ways to expedite development. He expressed that all parties involved are motivated to accelerate the program.
In terms of organization, Taricco is one of two directors at the U.K.-based GIGO, teaming with Phil Brooker, a former British Air Vice-Marshal. Together, they report to Japanese CEO Oka Masami, who was appointed for a three-year term last year. An industrial joint venture has been established involving BAE Systems, Italy’s Leonardo, and Japan’s JAIEC, with funding support from Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and the Society of Japanese Aerospace Companies.
The joint venture is expected to commence operations within weeks, sharing facilities with GIGO in Green Park, Reading, near London. Taricco mentioned that the combined workforce of the joint venture and GIGO could total around 1,000 in 12 to 15 months.
Anticipated milestones include signing an initial international contract by the end of 2025, with a design and development contract potentially following by late 2026 or early 2027. While the fighter is designed to work alongside unmanned drones, no timeline has yet been established for integrating those platforms into the joint venture’s framework.
Taricco also noted that exporting the aircraft is an essential component of the cooperation program, and discussions to involve new partners, including Saudi Arabia, are ongoing at the government level.
**Author:** Tom Kington, Italy Correspondent for Defense News.
