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 SpA, 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 SpA (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.