Italy, UK Extend Invitation to India for Collaborative Development of GCAP 6th-Gen Fighter Jet Program

In a move that could significantly reshape the landscape of international defence collaboration, the United Kingdom and Italy have voiced their support for inviting India to join the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). This ambitious initiative, which already includes Japan, aims to develop a sixth-generation stealth fighter jet by 2035.

This isn't the first time India has been approached to participate. Two years ago, the UK extended an initial invitation for India to join the Tempest Project, the precursor to the current GCAP.

Now, with Italy also expressing enthusiasm, the prospect of India's involvement has gained renewed momentum. Italy's keenness to bring India on board stems from a strategic desire to expand the partnership and share the immense costs associated with developing such cutting-edge technology.

The inclusion of more partners like India in the GCAP offers benefits beyond just cost-sharing. It allows for the leveraging of collective technological expertise, potentially leading to reduced unit costs and overall production expenses. Each additional partner brings unique innovations, manufacturing capabilities, and market access to the table, making the resulting fighter jet more competitive in both performance and price.

While the final cost of this multi-billion-dollar project remains undisclosed, the collaborative framework is expected to significantly mitigate the financial burden on each individual nation.

For India, joining the GCAP would be a significant step. It would mean entering a select group of nations at the forefront of developing the most advanced fighter jets in the world. Participation would not only bolster India's defence capabilities but also provide a major boost to its aerospace industry through exposure to state-of-the-art technology and collaborative research and development.

India's own Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program could potentially benefit from shared technology and insights gained through this collaboration.

This invitation underscores India's growing prominence in the global defence landscape and presents a unique opportunity for the nation to contribute to and benefit from a cutting-edge, international fighter jet program.

 

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[Alok Gupta]

I hope India joins this program. It will greatly benefit the aeronautical industry and lessen the cost of anything that India decides to develop on it's own at a later date.

 

[Paolini]

Italy also build Eurofighter, a 4.5 generation fighter and build also some parts of F35. France and Germany are behind.

 

[Pad UwU]

WE should consider participating in engine for 6th gen jet with shared IP.

Firstly things first what can we provide to the shared IP for the engine 🤔🧐
material supply cheap labor?

 

[Pad UwU]

They want us to involve on thier terms and conditions and get a guaranteed market for fighters and fund the program too and we will not get any capability addition for funds spent. So it is loss to us all the way.
This is keeping aside the geopolitics part of UK aside, which is emerging as the next hub for deep state.

Because the JV needs sharing of cost and sharing IP's to develop new IP's to the consortium.... How can we get the new IP's if we don't have any contribution to add on... Or we can just pay more like we are getting the licenses of the IP technology for the engine instead

 

[Pad UwU]

Don't forget, whatever the West is offering to us is only because Russia has put us in such a position that unless they offer us better than what Russia is offering, we won't be enticed.

If we lose some Russian tech because of the agreement.... Reality is we can't even use it because we don't know the proper process of utilizing it like the Russian and Chinese do in that tech.... Look at HAL 😹😹😹😹

 

[prasant kumar shaarma]

If we lose some Russian tech because of the agreement.... Reality is we can't even use it because we don't know the proper process of utilizing it like the Russian and Chinese do in that tech.... Look at HAL 😹😹😹😹

We would lose (some) Russian technologies in lieu of future sanctions, supply chain disruptions, etc., like the present GE 404 engines and maybe a 'kill switch'.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

Firstly things first what can we provide to the shared IP for the engine 🤔🧐
material supply cheap labor?

Some tech....we also have a working 50KN in engine and money.

 

[Pad UwU]

Some tech....we also have a working 50KN in engine and money.

Look bro, the UK, Italy, and Japan have low-kN engines; money is easily disposable. I believe knowledge, know-how, plus a good relationship with like-minded nations is better. In my opinion, we can offer them our Indian expertise in software development and our vast mineral resources needed for that 6th-gen if we can't provide the same value in tech. It's an alternative option. We can also offer our cheap labor force as long as they establish a maintenance facility here, and Indians will gain experience and expertise in the nooks and crannies of the aircraft. The important thing is that we have an upper hand against our neighboring enemies. 😺

 

[मित्र]

Only way to succeed in long run is by becoming independent in these niche techs. We need to mature 5.5 gen AMCA and soon need to start our own 6th gen development.
Yes I know thats next to impossible due to delays and tech development, but we have to do it.
Need to learn from China, their tech may have issues, but they are going independent in both defence and chip making and in some time their tech will be on par with west.

 

[abhinav srivastava]

@Pad UwU
Your version is the same as what they would want. It's not what we want. We won't gain much by developing software for engine development. Money is their primary motivation. They want to lower the development cost for each participant.

 

[kumar]

Because the JV needs sharing of cost and sharing IP's to develop new IP's to the consortium.... How can we get the new IP's if we don't have any contribution to add on... Or we can just pay more like we are getting the licenses of the IP technology for the engine instead

Investing in AMCA will allow our aerospace supply chain to leapfrog than any 6th generation fighter JV will claim to provide. We need to reduce decision making time and rest of them will get completed on time.

 

[Raja Raja Cholan]

Indian officials should study the invitation carefully and if favourable should seriously consider joining the collaboration which could greatly benefit the Indian engineers. If it is a viable option then don't hold back for too long due negative thinkings.

 

[Jet raja]

We should invite them to manufacture here in India provide full support. Make them an offer that they cannot refuse.