HQ for Global Combat Air Programme opened in Reading
Peter Felstead
A flagship headquarters for the UK-Italian-Japanese Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) was opened in Reading, Berkshire, on 7 July 2025 by UK Minister for Defence Procurement and Industry Maria Eagle.
The new facility will host the GCAP International Government Organisation (GIGO), the executive body established in December 2023 that places contracts with industrial partners engaged in the GCAP effort, and Edgewing, which is the joint venture established on 20 June 2025 by GCAP international industry partners BAE Systems (UK), Leonardo (Italy) and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co (Japan) to take the programme forward.
The HQ’s opening came on the same day as UK Defence Secretary John Healey met virtually with Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto and Japanese Defence Minister Gen Nakatani to discuss the latest progress on GCAP.
The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) noted in a press release that the GCAP programme is already creating thousands of highly skilled jobs across the UK, Japan, and Italy, including new apprentice and graduate roles, and supporting the strong relationship between industry and the armed forces of the three nations. There are currently more than 3,500 people, including engineers and programmers, working on GCAP in the UK. A further 1,000 have undertaken GCAP-related apprenticeships or training schemes, supporting the UK government’s Plan for Change by driving defence as an engine for economic growth.
“Opening of this global HQ in Reading underlines the UK’s full commitment to GCAP and demonstrates the steps we are taking with our partners to deliver for defence,” the MoD quoted Healey as stating. “Through this work we are helping to ensure the UK remains at the forefront of combat air power innovation for decades to come and that defence is engine for growth across the country,” Healey added.
![These These images of Tempest studies do not represent an evolution, since several of them were undertaken in parallel. They do represent different emphases on elements of the requirement. The first to be seen was the ‘Pregnant Pelican’, as unveiled at Farnborough in 2018. The Concept Class Five aircraft was unveiled at Farnborough in 2022, while the Lambda-winged aircraft (the P189-17B) was first seen at DSEI Japan the following year. The so-called ‘Big Delta’ was revealed at Farnborough in 2024. [BAE Systems; Ministère des Armées/SITTA]of Tempest studies do not represent an evolution, since several of them were undertaken in parallel. They do represent different emphases on elements of the requirement. The first to be seen was the ‘Pregnant Pelican’, as unveiled at Farnborough in 2018. The Concept Class Five aircraft was unveiled at Farnborough in 2022, while the Lambda-winged aircraft (the P189-17B) was first seen at DSEI Japan the following year. The so-called ‘Big Delta’ was revealed at Farnborough in 2024. [BAE Systems; Ministère des Armées/SITTA]](https://euro-sd.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/7D-RS171720_2620-LONDON-24-IMAGE-01-2-Kopie-218x150.jpg "The Combat Air Flying Demonstrator: Rehearsing and preparing for GCAP")
![The UK aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales (foreground) sails alongside the US carrier USS George Washington during Australia’s ‘Talisman Sabre’ exercise in July 2025. The two carrier strike groups (CSGs), plus Australian Navy assets, conducted CSG integration activities. [Crown copyright 2025]](https://euro-sd.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/09/1-PWLS-GW-TSabre-CC-UK-MoD-25-Kopie-218x150.jpg "Strategic shift: UK CSG deployment demonstrates switch in UK strategic focus")
