Multi-national In development BAE Systems
GCAP Tempest
Sixth-generation stealth fighter jointly developed by the United Kingdom, Italy and Japan under the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), known in the UK by its capability name Tempest. Delivered through the Edgewing joint venture (BAE Systems, Leonardo and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co., each holding a one-third stake, launched June 2025), the aircraft will carry roughly double an F-35A's weapons payload with sufficient internal fuel for trans-Atlantic range, replacing the Eurofighter Typhoon and Mitsubishi F-2 from around 2035. A flight-test aircraft (Excalibur) and the Combat Air Flying Demonstrator are both in build, with first demonstrator flight targeted for late 2027.
Planned service entry 2035
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-24
Pricing: Unit cost not yet disclosed; program in development. UK committed £8.6 billion over the four years to FY2029-30 (including a £4.6 billion, 18-month contract awarded July 2026); Italy has approved €8.8 billion; Japan allocated ¥206.6 billion (~$1.27 billion) for fiscal 2026.
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
National export licensing
Subject to Multi-national export-control approval; verify eligibility with the manufacturer.
Channel: Direct commercial / G2G
Development status
Operator data not public
Planned service entry 2035. Status: announced.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
No public unit price to model from. Why so few systems publish one →
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Compatible munitions & weapons
Publicly reported weapons the GCAP Tempest can carry. Linked items have a full spec page.
Full specifications
Protection
Armor, countermeasures and survivability.
| Signature reduction Radar cross-section shaping, RAM coatings, IR suppression. Actual RCS values are classified. | Low-observable delta-wing airframe with serpentine engine ducting and internal weapons bays, tested via the Combat Air Flying Demonstrator |
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Propulsion
Engine, power and fuel.
| Engines Number of engines. Twin-engine gives redundancy at higher cost. | 2 |
|---|---|
| Propulsion type Turbofan, turboshaft, diesel, gas turbine, solid-fuel rocket, ramjet… | Twin-engine, low-observable turbofan (Rolls-Royce-led engine development, exact type undisclosed) |
Sensors & avionics
Radar, sensor suite and datalinks.
| Sensors IRST, EO/IR turrets, laser designators, sniper pods, thermal sights. | networked sensor fusion suite (in development) |
|---|
Specifications compiled from public BAE Systems and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-24.
Compare with rivals
See how it stacks up
Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptor 
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What is the BAE Systems GCAP Tempest used for? +
The BAE Systems GCAP Tempest is a fighter aircraft typically used for air superiority, multirole combat.
How much does the BAE Systems GCAP Tempest cost? +
BAE Systems GCAP Tempest: Unit cost not yet disclosed; program in development. UK committed £8.6 billion over the four years to FY2029-30 (including a £4.6 billion, 18-month contract awarded July 2026); Italy has approved €8.8 billion; Japan allocated ¥206.6 billion (~$1.27 billion) for fiscal 2026.. Defense program costs are rarely fully public and vary by contract and configuration.
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