Italy says Germany and other countries interested in joining GCAP jet programme

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

04/12/2025 08:57

ROME, Dec 4 (Reuters) - Italy's defence minister on Thursday said other countries, including Germany and Australia, may be interested in entering the GCAP fighter jet programme in the future, with requests coming from Saudi Arabia and Canada too.

The GCAP, which currently involves Italy, Britain and Japan, is an effort to build a next-generation fighter by 2035 and is being led by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries <7011.T >in Japan, BAE Systems in Britain and Leonardo LDOF.MI in Italy.

"Germany could probably join this project in the future," Defence Minister Guido Crosetto told a parliamentary hearing.

 (Reporting by Angelo Amante, editing by Giulia Segreti)

 ((Angelo.Amante@thomsonreuters.com;))