Saudi Arabia is poised to join the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a collaborative initiative led by the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan aimed at developing a next-generation fighter jet. Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani announced that the agreement with the UK and Japan will now likely extend to include Saudi Arabia.
The inclusion of additional nations in the programme is not unexpected, as discussions regarding this expansion took place earlier in November. The GCAP, budgeted in billions of euros, is projected to enter service in the mid-2030s, replacing existing fighter jets such as the Boeing F-15 and Eurofighter Typhoon.
Saudi Arabia has been actively seeking to enhance its air force's fighter jet fleet and had previously attempted to order Typhoon jets, although Germany, a long-standing partner in the programme since the 1980s, initially blocked this effort.
The Saudi government has launched an ambitious industrialization project aimed at reducing its dependence on oil, with defense investments being a primary focus. The GCAP was initiated in 2022 following the UK's studies for an advanced stealth fighter, the Tempest, with Italy and Japan quickly expressing interest in sharing programme responsibilities, which will be led by BAE Systems, Leonardo, and Mitsubishi.
Sweden participated in preliminary studies but has since opted not to continue. Meanwhile, France, Germany, and Spain are leading their own project, the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), which Belgium is expected to join in 2025.