A new contract has been awarded to the companies of the GCAP Electronics Evolution (G2E) consortium – the international collaboration between the national defence electronics champions for Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom – to further develop the integrated sensing and communications for the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).

The 18-month contract was awarded by Edgewing - the joint venture established by Leonardo S.p.A., Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co. Ltd. (JAIEC) and BAE Systems plc that is responsible for the design and development of the sixth-generation GCAP fighter aircraft. It follows the signing of a contract between Edgewing and the GCAP Agency, the government entity that manages GCAP on behalf of the three nations.

The G2E consortium - which comprises ELT Group (Italy), Leonardo S.p.A. (Italy), Mitsubishi Electric Corporation (Japan) and Leonardo UK Ltd. (UK) - brings together four world-leading electronics businesses, from three nations, as a single strategic enabling partner with one vision - to deliver the Integrated Sensing And Non-Kinetic Effects & Integrated Communications Systems (known as ISANKE & ICS) that will make the GCAP jet fighter a sensor powerhouse.

The GCAP aircraft is being designed from the inside out to incorporate ISANKE & ICS, which will fuse and integrate vast amounts of data to provide pilots with the information advantage they need to succeed within the congested airspace of the 21st century.

Commenting on the signing, the G2E Consortium Interim General Manager, Andrew Howard.

"This is a significant milestone for the consortium, cementing GCAP Electronics Evolution as a strategic enabling partner within the GCAP enterprise.

"This contract reflects the progress we have made to transform from national companies to a single international entity. We stand ready to deliver the next critical period in the ongoing development of the programme.

"We continue to work closely within the GCAP enterprise as our team comes together to join our GCAP Agency and Edgewing partners at the programme HQ in Reading."