Leonardo, Elettronica, Avio Aero and Mbda take off with the Gcap
The Italian industry led by Leonardo has signed the contract for the new phase of sixth generation aviation system development: concept, assessment and demonstration activities of the Gcap program are underway, continuation of the Italian-British Tempest project after the entry of Japan
Leonardo, Elettronica, Avio Aero and Mbda Italia officially board the Global combat air program (Gcap), continuation of the project for the British-led sixth generation Tempest air combat system after the entry of Japan.
On January 26, the Italian team that will develop the Gcap) – made up of Leonardo as a strategic partner and leading national companies in their respective domains: Elettronica, Avio Aero and Mbda Italia – signed the contract to support the Italian Ministry of Defense in the phase evaluation of the concept and subsequent program demonstration activity.
On December 9, Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom announced that they were combining their development projects for a sixth generation fighter with the launch of the new Gcap.
The agreement effectively combines the British-led Tempest project — in which our country participates to replace Typhoon fighters — with Japan's FX program in an undertaking called the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP), relating to the development of a next-generation systems and multi-domain operations.
"This new phase is a crucial step in a process that aims to identify and make available those innovative technologies that will ensure our defense capabilities the necessary generational, technological and operational leap, allowing the national system to reach the highest level of excellence and of strategic autonomy", underlines Alessandro Profumo, CEO of Leonardo, who adds: "With the Gcap program, Italian companies play a fundamental role for the future of the defense industry, also at an international level, in a growth framework which at the at the same time it strengthens the operational capacity of the Armed Forces and generates positive returns and technological, economic and social progress for the entire country system".
All the details.
WHAT THE TEAM LED BY LEONARDO WILL DO FOR THE GCAP PROGRAM
In particular – reports a note – the team will guide developments through a process of technological transition towards the Gcap "system of systems", based on sixth generation air combat platforms capable of operating in multi-domain scenarios. The industry will also collaborate with universities, research centres, SMEs and start-ups, for the benefit of the exchange and growth of national skills, and in close synergy with the Ministry of Defense – responsible for defining the needs of a operational – to direct technological development and, consequently, industrial support.
The activities related to the Gcap officially started in December 2021, with an initial funding allocated by the Italian Ministry of Defence, while the "Typhoon-to-Gcap" technological evolution and transition phase launched by the same Ministry with the support of the industry, with the aim of starting a process of strategic modernization of operational resources.
A first demonstrator is scheduled to fly in 2027, after which production is expected to begin around 2030 or 2031 so that a prototype can be deployed by 2035.
ITALIAN RESOURCES
For the Gcap programme, Italy has already allocated 6 billion in investments to be dedicated to research and development activities which will allow the launch of technological development projects in areas of strategic interest, allowing the national industrial component to participate in the future phase of development of the system of systems.
In the multi-year planning document (Dpp) for Defense for the three-year period 2022-2022 published last July , the resources for the Tempest are assigned: from 2 billion euros allocated last year to 3.795 billion, with 220 million this year and 345 million the next.
THE TARGET
The activation of technological growth projects in areas of strategic interest will allow the national industrial component to actively participate in the development of the system of systems, considering the relevance of this activity for the achievement of an adequate level of national sovereignty, specifies the note.
BENIGNI: NATIONAL TECHNOLOGY SECTOR FROM THE TYPHOON ERA TO THE SIXTH GENERATION
“With the new phase of the Gcap program we are in the process of developing a technological and industrial plan that will take the national technological sector from the Typhoon era, the last major European program for the development of an aerial platform, to that of an aerial platform of systems sixth generation” commented Enzo Benigni, Chairman and CEO of Elettronica. “The geopolitical context we are experiencing underlines how vital it is to achieve the right level of readiness, interoperability and availability of technologies, to be prepared to manage the crises that affect us. A qualified role of Italian industry in the Gcap program becomes a national, European and international heritage, helping to make the concepts of strategic autonomy and technological sovereignty concrete. Elettronica is ready to give its contribution and recognizes the objectives of the program as its own” concluded Benigni.
PROCACCI: THE GCAP PROGRAM WILL PROVIDE APPROPRIATE SUPPORT TO THE ARMED FORCES
“The current challenging geopolitical context requires technological solutions that focus on operational excellence and the ability to adapt to future scenarios”, underlines Riccardo Procacci, Avio Aero's Chief Executive Officer. “The Gcap program responds to this need and will contribute to providing adequate support to the Armed Forces, also guaranteeing real strategic autonomy. Avio Aero, as a European company in the propulsion sector and historic partner of the Armed Forces, participates in the program not only by making its industrial capabilities and recognized technological excellence available, but also by continuing to invest in the development of innovative technologies, with the support and the involvement of its network of collaborations with universities, research centers and SMEs”.
THE ROLE OF MBDA ITALIA
“By participating in the Gcap program and activating this second phase of the contract, MBDA Italia, also through collaboration with universities, research centers and SMEs, deploys its ability to cooperatively manage the effectors and the related technologies to support the system of systems. These technologies will form the basis of complex systems for national air defense. The ability to counter the most challenging threats will be a key element of the performance of the sixth generation air combat system” said Lorenzo Mariani, Executive Group Director Sales and Business Development MBDA Group and CEO of MBDA Italy.
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/innovazione/leonardo-elettronica-avio-aero-e-mbda-decollano-con-il-gcap/ on Thu, 26 Jan 2023 15:25:00 +0000.