The Global Combat Air Program (GCAP), a trilateral defense collaboration involving Japan, Italy, and the United Kingdom, has reached a significant milestone with Japanese defense contractor Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) unveiling concept designs for its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA). These aircraft will work alongside Japan’s next-generation fighter jets, an ambitious project set to modernize and enhance air combat capabilities in an increasingly tense global security landscape.
As one of the key players in the GCAP, MHI presented its groundbreaking concepts during the International Aerospace Exhibition 2024, held at Tokyo Big Sight in Ariake. The unveiling highlights the pivotal role that artificial intelligence (AI) and unmanned systems will play in future warfare, showcasing Japan’s focus on combining human-piloted aircraft with autonomous, AI-driven drones to create a powerful and integrated combat system.
The GCAP, established to develop a next-generation fighter jet, has brought together leading defense companies from Japan, the United Kingdom, and Italy. The program aims to produce an advanced air combat system by 2035, integrating cutting-edge technology, AI, and automation. Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries serves as the lead system integrator for the project, collaborating with BAE Systems from the UK and Leonardo from Italy.
The envisioned fighter will be complemented by a network of unmanned “adjuncts” — including drones and other autonomous aircraft, AI-driven advanced sensors, and data systems capable of real-time threat analysis and response. Together, these assets aim to create a highly coordinated, multi-layered defense and attack capability that can effectively counter modern threats from adversaries such as China.
At the Tokyo event, MHI revealed two distinct models of its CCA: the “expendable ISR variant” and the “tactical combat variant.” Each has been designed to address specific roles within the GCAP’s vision of integrated air combat.
The expendable ISR variant, named the ARMDC-20X, focuses on intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions. The platform’s primary function is to detect, identify, and relay information about potential threats to the crewed next-generation aircraft, enhancing the situational awareness of manned jets. It is expected to serve as an essential element in identifying enemy positions, coordinating attacks, and providing real-time data to the larger combat network. A full-scale mock-up of the ARMDC-20X was displayed at the exhibition, capturing the attention of both industry insiders and military experts.
In addition, MHI showcased a 1:10-scale model of the tactical combat CCA, which features an internal payload compartment capable of carrying a range of weaponry. This variant will serve a more active combat role, acting as a loyal wingman for manned fighters. It will be capable of engaging enemy targets directly, using advanced weaponry, while reducing the risk to human pilots.
The unveiling of MHI’s CCAs marks a significant step forward in the development of manned-unmanned teaming, a concept that has been gaining traction worldwide. The idea is to pair human-piloted aircraft with autonomous drones that can extend sensor range, enhance firepower, and reduce the operational burden on crewed fighters. This approach allows for more flexible and dynamic mission execution, especially in contested environments where enemy air defense systems or stealth technologies, such as those seen in China’s J-20 stealth fighters, could pose a significant challenge.
MHI’s presentation included a video simulation showing how these unmanned systems could operate alongside Japan’s next-generation fighters. In the simulation, the unmanned aircraft detects a hostile platform — resembling the Chinese J-20 stealth fighter — and relays the information to a manned fighter jet. The human pilot then directs the CCA to launch an air-to-air missile from its internal weapons bay, successfully neutralizing the threat.
The depiction of the CCA engaging a J-20 Mighty Dragon is particularly notable, as the J-20 is one of China’s most advanced fifth-generation stealth fighters and a key asset for the People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF). Experts have long speculated that Japan’s increased investment in next-generation air systems is driven by the need to counter growing Chinese military capabilities in the region.
As tensions in the Indo-Pacific rise, particularly over contested territories and maritime routes, Japan sees the development of advanced air combat capabilities as crucial to maintaining regional stability and protecting its interests. Japan’s defense strategy increasingly focuses on leveraging AI, automation, and unmanned systems to create a technological edge over potential adversaries. The integration of CCAs into the GCAP is part of this broader strategy, which aims to ensure air superiority in any future conflict scenario.
While the development of these unmanned platforms is not directly covered under the core trilateral GCAP agreement, MHI officials confirmed that their designs are being developed with the GCAP fighter jet in mind. Both CCA variants are expected to feature modular equipment, allowing them to be tailored to specific missions and upgraded with new technologies as they become available.
One key aspect of the CCA’s development is its open architecture, which ensures that the systems will be easily adaptable and scalable in the future. This flexibility is critical as new threats emerge and technologies evolve. MHI anticipates that a fully operational version of these drones will be ready to support the GCAP fighter when it enters service in 2035.
Mitsubishi’s unveiling comes at a time of increased international collaboration in defense technologies. Japan has long been a key ally of the United States, and there have been discussions about Japan joining the US Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program. Earlier this year, US Secretary of the Air Force Frank Kendall expressed interest in working with Japan on the development of autonomous aircraft powered by AI.
The CCA program is also seen as part of Japan’s broader efforts to upgrade its aging air fleet, with the GCAP fighter set to replace Japan’s F-2 fighters and other older platforms. Japan’s focus on developing autonomous aircraft reflects a shift towards more technologically advanced, cost-effective solutions that can enhance national security without relying solely on manned fighter jets.
The unveiling of MHI’s CCA models comes just months after Japan, the UK, and Italy showcased their latest concept for the GCAP fighter at the Farnborough International Airshow in July. Observers described the airframe as massive, suggesting that the next-generation fighter will be a significant departure from current designs.
The GCAP fighter is expected to serve as a flying command center, coordinating both manned and unmanned aircraft across various domains, including air, land, sea, and cyber. This multi-domain capability is crucial as modern warfare becomes more interconnected and complex. The next-generation fighter is not just an aircraft; it is part of a broader combat air system that will integrate AI, cyber capabilities, and space-based assets to provide unparalleled situational awareness and combat effectiveness.
With the GCAP fighter and its accompanying CCAs expected to enter service by 2035, Japan, along with its GCAP partners, is positioning itself at the forefront of defense innovation. The development of these advanced air systems, including MHI’s loyal wingman drones, highlights the importance of AI and automation in the future of air combat. As Japan faces growing regional threats, particularly from China, these new technologies will play a critical role in maintaining the balance of power in the Indo-Pacific.
