Japan is considering exporting its next-gen aircraft, which it is developing in collaboration with the UK and Italy under the Global Air Combat Program (GCAP), to Australia. Tokyo reportedly invited India to the GCAP program last month.
This was revealed in a report by Japan-based publications Nikkei Asia and EurAsian Times earlier. The report added that India and Canada have also shown interest in the next-generation fighter, which will replace the F-2 used by Japan and the Eurofighter Typhoon operated by the UK and Italy.
The Japanese government has not officially acknowledged the report; however, it is no secret that Japan and other partners are actively looking to invite more partners to the GCAP program.
For instance, in March 2024, the Japanese cabinet eased the nation’s stringent regulations on defense equipment exports, paving the way for the export of next-generation fighter jets.
“In order to achieve a fighter aircraft that meets the necessary performance, and to avoid jeopardizing the defense of Japan, it is necessary to transfer finished products from Japan to countries other than partner countries,” Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshimasa Hayashi was quoted as saying at the time.
The export restrictions were eased on the pretext that the aircraft would only be exported to countries with existing defense equipment and technology transfer agreements with Japan. Moreover, the Japanese cabinet will evaluate export requests on a case-by-case basis, following internal deliberations within the ruling coalition.
Australia, which established the Defense Technology Cooperation Framework with Tokyo in 2014, qualifies as a potential buyer. While Australia has not explicitly stated if it would consider purchasing the aircraft, it received an update on the project during the Avalon Australian International Airshow held in the country in March 2025.
At the time, Air Vice-Marshal Nicholas Hogan, head of air force capability for the Royal Australian Air Force, said, “It was an informational briefing, and we have asked for some more information.” “The briefing was primarily to give Australia an understanding of how we might have to operate with that aircraft … as part of a combined international operation if required,” he added, steering clear of showing any clear interest in the program.
Australia has already acquired 72 fifth-generation F-35 Lightning II aircraft, the last of which was delivered in December 2024. It had earlier plans to place an additional order for 28 F-35A fighters, but it was shelved after the Labor government decided to redirect the finances to other high-priority defense projects.
The F-35A is currently a cornerstone of Australia’s air combat, complemented by F/A-18F Super Hornets and EA-18G Growlers. However, Australia’s 2024 Defense Strategic Review and AIR 6000 Phase 2C program indicate a need for next-generation fighters to replace F/A-18F Super Hornets by the mid-2030s, making GCAP a viable candidate.
The sixth-generation aircraft will take Australian capability to the next level. It will be equipped with cutting-edge capabilities like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and manned-unmanned teaming that will likely meet Australia’s long-term requirements.
Moreover, it will allow Australia to deter China (considered the biggest security threat by Australia), which has been steadily expanding its military presence in the Pacific. China is currently testing two prototype sixth-generation fighter jets, which means that the capability gap between Canberra and Beijing will significantly increase once these aircraft are inducted into the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF).
The GCAP fighter is designed to penetrate contested environments. Additionally, its delta-wing configuration, with a 50-degree sweep and 16.5-meter wingspan, optimizes fuel efficiency for long-range missions—just what Australia needs for potential Indo-Pacific missions.
Meanwhile, the US awarded Boeing the contract to develop its sixth-generation F-47 aircraft in March 2025. However, US President Donald Trump said that the US intends to sell the jets to “certain allies” but added that they will possibly be in “toned-down versions.”
So, Australia could possibly choose between F-47 and GCAP.
With the Australian government currently invested in naval projects like the AUKUS submarine and the acquisition of a new warship, it remains to be seen if the country will seriously consider the GCAP aircraft.
India In The Fray?
Japan has also invited India, another Quad partner besides Australia, to join the program. According to a Kyodo News report, Japanese officials traveled to India in February 2025 to brief Indian authorities about the program and invite them to participate.
The report also noted that the Indian government has set up a “Make in India” initiative to promote domestic production and has shown interest in the Japanese proposal.
The proposal aims to reduce the project’s substantial costs and deepen security ties with India in the Indo-Pacific region. It follows previous failed attempts to welcome more participants, such as Sweden, into the program.
India, like Australia, has not formally confirmed the offer or its interest in GCAP.
Besides Australia and India, Canada could also explore acquiring or co-developing the next-gen fighter under GCAP. In April 2025, the United Kingdom indicated it was open to welcoming Canada into the sixth-generation Global Combat Air Program (GCAP).
British Defense Minister Maria Eagle said that although Canada is not a GCAP partner, “all three Global Combat Air Programme nations have highlighted an openness to working with other nations while keeping us on track with the program delivery schedule and helping us deliver future military capabilities.”
The statement came after Canada said it was reevaluating the F-35 purchase amid tensions with the United States.
The Trilateral GCAP
In 2022, the UK, Japan, and Italy decided to pool their resources and technology to develop a sixth-generation aircraft with cutting-edge technology, and the GCAP Alliance was formally established.
The GCAP essentially merges the British Tempest and the Japanese F-X program and aims to produce a cutting-edge multirole fighter with advanced stealth, sensor fusion, artificial intelligence, and manned-unmanned teaming capabilities. Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Italy’s Leonardo, and Britain’s BAE Systems will lead the project as system integrators.
The proposed combat air system will include a crewed sixth-generation fighter jet, unmanned “adjuncts” like drones, sophisticated sensors, and networked data systems driven by artificial intelligence and cloud computing.
The crewed sixth-generation fighter jet will be equipped with cutting-edge technology, such as advanced radar and perhaps high-power microwave capabilities. It would be designed for long-range combat.
The new concept model for the future combat aircraft of the three GCAP partner nations was introduced at the Farnborough International Airshow in July of last year. The specific concept model had a wider wingspan than earlier unveiled designs to enhance the aerodynamics of future combat aircraft.
The program has established the GCAP International Government Organization (GIGO), responsible for administering the industrial framework, setting capability requirements, and supervising the next-generation fighter jet.
The GIGO would be headquartered in the UK and headed by a Japanese official. Italy is expected to provide the first leader of the company associated with the GIGO, which will include Leonardo of Italy, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) of Japan, and BAE Systems PLC of Britain.
The GCAP partners state that the aircraft will be among the world’s most advanced, networked, versatile, and interoperable fighter jets. Thanks to its software-driven interactive cockpit, integrated sensor array, intelligent weapons system, and next-generation radar, the next-generation combat aircraft will provide more data, enhancing situational awareness.
The trilateral GCAP alliance had previously declared that the aircraft would make its first flight in 2027 and be ready for induction by 2035 – an ambitious timeframe.
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