European Sovereignty Monitor

Defence and space

GCAP Agency awards Edgewing GBP 686 million first joint fighter contract

The GCAP Agency placed a GBP 686 million contract with Edgewing, the UK-Italy-Japan joint venture, for design and engineering work on the sixth-generation fighter, the programme's first joint international contract.

Verified Leonardo press release, 2 April 2026

What it does not test. Does not establish the value or terms of the full development contract still to be signed.

How this item counts. Towards autonomy: it changes who made the parts. Binding 2 of 3 (agreed or funded), scale 2 of 3 (medium), Verified counts in full: weight +4 of 36 possible. Edgewing (UK-Italy-Japan JV) contracted for fighter design; parts shift to European industry, ~EUR790m. European Sovereignty Index

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