SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
Recent reports in Japanese media suggesting that India is keen to join the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP)—a collaborative 6th generation fighter jet initiative led by the United Kingdom, Japan, and Italy—have been categorically refuted by Indian Air Force (IAF) officials.
Speaking to idrw.org , IAF officials clarified that no formal talks have taken place with Japan, nor has India sought permission to join the program. The statement comes amid speculation about India’s potential involvement in the high-profile multinational project, which is actively seeking additional partners to offset its estimated $32.5 billion development cost. However, the IAF emphasized its unwavering focus on the indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program, a 5.5-generation stealth fighter slated for induction by 2035.
The Japanese media reports, which surfaced earlier this week, claimed that India had expressed interest in joining the GCAP, a program launched in 2022 to develop a next-generation stealth fighter by 2035. The initiative, involving Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Italy’s Leonardo, and Britain’s BAE Systems, aims to deliver a 6th generation platform featuring advanced stealth, directed-energy weapons, and integration with unmanned systems. The reports suggested that India’s inclusion could help share the financial burden while leveraging its growing aerospace expertise, a sentiment echoed by the UK and Italy, who have repeatedly invited India to join the program.
However, IAF officials have dismissed these claims as speculative. “No such talks have happened, nor has India sought Japan’s permission to join the program,” an IAF official told idrw.org. The official clarified that the GCAP is a multi-country initiative with a clear intent to scout additional partners due to its high estimated cost, but India has not formally engaged in discussions to participate. This rebuttal aligns with India’s broader strategic focus on self-reliance in defense manufacturing, as evidenced by its commitment to the AMCA program, which is being developed by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) and the Aeronautical Development Agency (ADA).
While denying any formal negotiations, the IAF official did confirm that an informal briefing on the GCAP was conducted by British Ministry of Defence (MoD) officials a few years ago. This briefing, which took place around 2022 when the UK initially invited India to join the Tempest Project (a precursor to GCAP), was intended to provide an overview of the program’s objectives and potential benefits for India. The UK, alongside Italy, has since reiterated its interest in bringing India on board, with Japan reportedly supportive of the idea as a means to distribute the program’s financial and technological demands.
The informal briefing highlighted the potential for India to secure the same engine technology—potentially a Rolls-Royce-led design—for both the GCAP fighter and the AMCA, streamlining development and positioning India as a peer to nations operating cutting-edge fighter technology. Rolls-Royce has also pitched a 110-130 kN engine for the AMCA, offering 100% intellectual property rights, a deal matched by France’s Safran. However, the IAF official emphasized that the briefing did not lead to any concrete commitments, and India’s focus remains firmly on the AMCA program.
The AMCA, a 5.5-generation stealth fighter, is India’s flagship indigenous fighter jet program, designed to bridge the gap between 5th and 6th-generation technologies. With its first flight scheduled for 2028 and induction targeted for 2035, the AMCA is expected to feature advanced stealth, supercruise capabilities, AI-driven avionics, and next-generation sensors. The IAF plans to induct 126 AMCA jets by 2040, with the Mk1 variant powered by General Electric F414 engines (98 kN thrust) and the Mk2 variant equipped with a more powerful 110-130 kN engine co-developed with a foreign partner—currently contested by Rolls-Royce, Safran, and GE.
Despite invitations to join international 6th generation programs like the GCAP and the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) led by Germany, France, and Spain, India has consistently prioritized the AMCA. The IAF official underscored that the AMCA’s success is expected to lay the groundwork for a future 6th generation fighter program, potentially commencing in the 2040s with induction targeted for 2050. This long-term vision aligns with India’s goal of achieving technological self-reliance while avoiding the pitfalls of delayed inductions, as seen with the Tejas Mk1 program.
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