UK boosts GCAP investment with £708 million combat air contract
The UK government has announced a £708 million (€830.2 million) investment to accelerate the development of next-generation combat air technologies and strengthen Britain’s contribution to the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). The Ministry of Defence awarded the contract extension to BAE Systems to continue work on the UK’s Future Combat Air System (FCAS), which includes the sixth-generation Tempest combat aircraft and wider capabilities such as uncrewed air systems, advanced networks and next-generation weapons technologies. The investment, announced at the Farnborough International Airshow, will support critical sovereign combat air technologies and forms part of a wider £8.6 billion commitment over four years. BAE Systems will lead development of AI, digital engineering, and advanced manufacturing techniques alongside Team Tempest partners Leonardo UK, MBDA UK and Rolls-Royce. Defence Secretary Wes Streeting emphasized the investment strengthens defence and creates UK jobs. The announcement follows Canada joining GCAP as the first Observer Nation.
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