UK signals openness to German membership of GCAP fighter programme
Germany is considering its options after the collapse of its fighter project with France, but has made no decision on a replacement partnership.
German participation in the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) is an option Britain is willing to pursue with Italy and Japan, British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on 8 October 2026. He discussed the sixth-generation fighter jet programme with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz during their meeting in Berlin.
Germany has been exploring participation following the collapse earlier this year of FCAS, its combat aircraft project with France. An unnamed senior German official described the discussions as an initial step towards finding possible partners, rather than a preliminary or final decision. The official said Germany was reviewing all options and that Merz favoured a European approach over proceeding alone.
The programme’s three current members have reservations about expansion because it could leave each country with less work or cause delays. In July, the chief executive of Leonardo, the Italian defence company involved in GCAP’s industrial coalition, said another country would have to join within the next 12 months.
Canada became GCAP’s first observer country earlier this year, a position that could eventually lead to full membership. Saudi Arabia is another potential participant.
Separately, Burnham outlined a new UK-German partnership to address hybrid threats from countries including Russia. The German official said the two defence ministries had been instructed to consider ways of extending that cooperation.
