A new report from British lawmakers has called for stricter cost controls on the trilateral Global Combat Air Programme, a collaboration between the United Kingdom, Italy and Japan aimed at developing a next-generation stealth jetfighter by 2035.
According to a statement released by the British Parliament on Tuesday, the defense committee’s report recommends that London consider a multiyear funding approach to ensure a stable GCAP and maintain the confidence of international partners in the U.K.’s commitment to the project. The committee also emphasized the need for transparency regarding GCAP’s budget, advocating for cost information to be accessible to both Parliament and the public as the program progresses.
UK Program Commitment
The 41-page report notes that the U.K. Ministry of Defence has allocated approximately $14.7 billion for GCAP for the next 10 years, plus more than $730 million already committed by the industry.
Tan Dhesi, the chair of the defense committee, highlighted that GCAP is facing challenges such as “soaring costs and mounting delays,” which are common in multilateral defense programs. He stressed the importance of having a well-structured program managed “by the right people” to make timely and effective decisions, particularly given the pressures on the U.K. defense budget.
The committee also recommended adopting a holistic approach to workforce recruitment for GCAP. It emphasized the need not only to attract new talent to the combat air industry but also to transition the existing workforce involved in manufacturing the Eurofighter Typhoon aircraft to GCAP.