In a move poised to reshape the future of air combat collaboration in the Indo-Pacific, Japan has formally approached India to participate in the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) — a multinational sixth-generation fighter jet development initiative jointly led by Japan, the United Kingdom, and Italy.
Announced on April 30, 2025, by a Japanese government source and later detailed by the Kyodo News Agency, the outreach to India marks a bold attempt to expand GCAP’s scope while consolidating strategic alliances in the face of growing regional tensions and escalating military modernization by rival nations.
The pitch to New Delhi underscores two main objectives: sharing the staggering costs of next-generation fighter development and deepening Indo-Japanese defense ties to support a more stable, secure Indo-Pacific.
According to sources cited by Kyodo, Japanese officials visited New Delhi in February 2025, holding a closed-door briefing with senior Indian government and defense representatives. During the meeting, Tokyo formally introduced the GCAP framework, outlined its benefits, and invited India to join as a full-fledged development partner.
The invitation comes at a time when India has ramped up its domestic defense production under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flagship “Make in India” initiative. Officials close to the matter revealed that India expressed early interest, though no official confirmation has been issued by either side to date.
Launched in 2022, the Global Combat Air Program represents the fusion of the British-led “Tempest” initiative with similar ambitions from Japan and Italy. The program’s objective is to develop a sixth-generation fighter jet — a platform integrating artificial intelligence, stealth, drone teaming, and next-gen propulsion systems.
As per the treaty signed and ratified by the three nations, GCAP aims to achieve full design and development milestones by 2025, with the first operational aircraft expected in the mid-2030s.
In November 2024, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni met in Tokyo to reaffirm their commitment to the project and to discuss expanding it to include “a broader range of international partners.”
In a joint statement, the trio emphasized the need to “move forward expeditiously”, expressing a shared intent to welcome new partners who could enhance the program’s technical depth and geopolitical reach.
For India, joining GCAP offers a unique opportunity to leapfrog into the realm of sixth-generation air power. The country’s indigenous fighter development efforts, including the HAL AMCA (Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft), have faced delays and resource constraints.
Moreover, India’s geopolitical neighborhood remains volatile, with adversaries China and Pakistan steadily advancing their own air capabilities. China’s J-20 stealth fighter is already operational, while Pakistan is reportedly acquiring the J-35, a fifth-generation stealth aircraft developed by China.
Partnering in GCAP would allow India to:
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Access cutting-edge aerospace technology
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Boost indigenous defense manufacturing
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Strengthen its position in the Indo-Pacific security architecture
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Counterbalance China’s growing military footprint
As Nik Khanna, India head of BAE Systems, previously remarked regarding the Tempest program: “A big cost driver for a futuristic aerospace system is going to be the requirement for more and more software engineers. India has a huge capability in that area.”
GCAP will be led by three major defense contractors:
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Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Japan)
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BAE Systems (UK)
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Leonardo (Italy)
These firms will serve as system integrators, overseeing the program’s complex technological development, managing global supply chains, and harmonizing standards across borders. The GCAP International Government Organization (GIGO) will coordinate national priorities, capability requirements, and funding commitments.
Industry analysts estimate the overall cost of GCAP to be in the range of $40–60 billion, making cost-sharing through international cooperation critical to its success.
Japan’s approach to India comes amid a broader debate about expanding GCAP’s membership. Notably:
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Sweden, once an early participant in Tempest studies, withdrew in 2023, citing strategic divergences.
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Saudi Arabia has shown strong interest, even prematurely announcing its entry in early 2023 — a move later walked back by the UK, amid Japan’s reported objections.
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Germany, currently committed to the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) with France and Spain, was rumored to consider switching allegiances due to ongoing frictions with Paris. However, Berlin has since reaffirmed its commitment to FCAS.
Any new member must receive unanimous approval from Japan, Italy, and the UK — a clause that gives Japan considerable influence over the program’s future composition.
India is no stranger to joint defense projects. It has participated in:
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The BrahMos missile program with Russia
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The HAL Tejas light combat aircraft, supported by Western suppliers
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Technology transfer agreements with France (Rafale), Israel, and the United States
Joining GCAP would further enhance India’s diplomatic stature, signaling its rise as a trusted, technologically capable defense partner among key Western allies.
Despite its potential, the road ahead is not without challenges:
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Cost-sharing mechanisms will require detailed negotiations
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Technology transfer and sovereignty issues could arise, given India’s push for full domestic control
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India’s existing commitments to indigenous projects may conflict with GCAP timelines or integration
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The China-Pakistan angle may draw scrutiny from domestic constituencies and the regional press
Furthermore, Japan’s resistance to Saudi Arabia’s entry shows that partner selection is about politics as much as capability — and India’s traditional strategic autonomy might face new tests under such an arrangement.
At its core, GCAP represents more than just an aircraft. It is an architectural pillar of future military collaboration — and India’s entry would send strong signals about the country’s long-term strategic direction.
The Indo-Pacific region has become a flashpoint for global power competition, with the US-China rivalry, disputes in the South China Sea, and Taiwan Strait tensions creating a need for stronger multilateral defense ties.
If India joins GCAP, it would firmly place itself within a like-minded coalition of technologically advanced democracies focused on:
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Interoperability
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Deterrence against coercive threats
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Long-term defense resilience
This would complement India’s participation in QUAD (with the US, Australia, and Japan) and deepen its security partnership with the West.
Japan’s overture to India is timely, ambitious, and strategically significant. As the GCAP program gains momentum, India must weigh the opportunity to gain early access to sixth-generation technologies against the constraints of budget, sovereignty, and existing commitments.
The ball is now in New Delhi’s court. Should it choose to accept the invitation, India could not only transform its airpower but also emerge as a central figure in shaping the Indo-Pacific’s future military equilibrium.
While official confirmation remains pending, behind-the-scenes diplomatic activity is likely intensifying. The coming months could define whether India steps into the cockpit of GCAP — or watches the next generation of aerial dominance take flight without it.
