Germany is weighing a role in the Global Combat Air Programme, with plans to discuss the fighter effort with Italy and Japan as Berlin considers its defense options.
Anadolu Agency reported that Germany would hold talks with Italy and Japan on a next-generation fighter program. Britain, Italy and Japan are the current partners in GCAP.
During his Japan visit, Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the two governments had agreed to a prompt ministerial discussion about possible fighter cooperation. The talks build on Merz’s earlier comments on Germany’s possible GCAP participation. Japan wants a decision on Germany’s role by the start of 2027, but Merz said Berlin may not meet that schedule.
Reuters reported that Merz described discussions among the existing partners on dividing industrial work as advanced. Germany is also weighing its options after the collapse earlier this year of the rival Franco-German fighter initiative, Reuters reported. The program’s target for service entry is 2035, according to Reuters.
