FUTURE COMBAT AIR SYSTEM

Rating: Compared to financial year 24/25 Q4, the NISTA/SRO Delivery Confidence Assessment (DCA) rating at 25/26 Q4 remained at Red. This is primarily due to the following factors. 1. The continued Red rating reflects the programme’s relative maturity, its scale and the complexity involved in meeting the challenges of successful design, delivery and support of a 6th generation fighter jet. The immediate focus is securing the necessary multi-year funding and approval settlements that will allow the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) to move to the next phase and see the first international development contract between the GCAP Agency and the tri-national Edgewing Joint Venture signed. 2. Other challenges faced by the programme include the design and delivery of a tri-national secure digital network and Collaborative Working Environment that equally supports novel approaches to digital engineering and digital qualification and certification objectives, whilst ensuring cyber resiliency and intellectual property protections.

Schedule: Exempt under Section 22 - Information intended for future publication

Cost: Exempt under Section 43 - Commercial interests

Source: NISTA Major Projects Annual Report 2025-26 (data)

Rating: Compared to financial year 23/24-Q4, the Delivery Confidence Assessment rating at 24/25-Q4 remained at RED. This is primarily due to the following factors. This is a reflection of the programme’s relative maturity, its scale, pace and the complex challenges involved in the successful long-term delivery of a 6th generation combat aircraft. As such, a confidence assessment of Red is not unexpected. Significant achievements have been made, having signed a treaty with trilateral Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) partners Italy and Japan in Dec 2023. Three significant milestones were then achieved in December 2024: the GCAP Convention came into force, the GCAP International Government Organisation was formally established in the UK, and the Joint Venture Agreement for GCAP was trilaterally signed by industry partners. However, the programme remains in the early stages of development, and there is recognition of the scale of the challenges faced to stand up a programme of this nature. Actions are being taken to address this at the start of the programme by learning the lessons of the past and from similarly large and complex projects.

Schedule: Section 22 - Information intended for future publication

Cost: Section 43 - Commercial interests

Source: NISTA Annual Report 2024-25 (data)

Rating: Compared to financial year 22/23-Q4, the Infrastructure and Project Authority's Delivery Confidence Assessment rating at 23/24-Q4 remained at Red. This is primarily due to the following factors. This is a reflection of the Programme’s relative maturity, its scale, pace and the complex challenges involved in the successful long-term delivery of a 6th generation fighter jet. The IPA have reported that a RED DCA would be expected at this stage. Significant achievements have already been made, having recently signed a treaty with tri-lateral Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) partners Italy and Japan in December 2023, but the Programme remains in the early stages of development and we recognise the scale of challenges to stand up a programme of this nature. We are taking actions to address this at the start of the Programme, by learning the lessons of the past and from similarly large and complex projects.

Schedule: Exempt under Section 26 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (Defence)

Cost: Exempt under Section 26 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000 (Defence)

Source: IPA Annual Report 2023-24 (data)