UK-Japan-Italy Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) News & Technical Analysis

[FighterJock]

Thanks DWG.

 

[timmymagic]

Please don't be giving the German's an 'in'....please....

https://twitter.com/x/status/1965443671345824049

View: https://x.com/RAeSTimR/status/1965443671345824049

 

[timmymagic]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1965415006222405959

View: https://x.com/RAeSTimR/status/1965415006222405959

 

[Seragina]

With all these news it looks like things are on fast track compared to the past.

Please don't be giving the German's an 'in'....please....

https://twitter.com/x/status/1965443671345824049

View: https://x.com/RAeSTimR/status/1965443671345824049

Not really news or surprising. What they say is they are limiting partnership now in order to keep things on tack and get something done in time while being open to later new comers and their willingness to later customized versions. Its mainly for the money ofc.

 

[WatcherZero]

In addition to the sensor consortium the engine consortium was stood up today as well. Their consortium doesn't have a brand name as yet unlike say Eurojet for the EJ200 engine.

For the demonstrator engine Avio is lead on the low pressure turbine, IHI is lead on the compressor and RR is lead on the combustor, high pressure turbine and exhaust nozzles. The demonstrator engine is primarily based on RR's Advance1 military demonstrator and the medium bypass Pearl 10X business jet engine which itself was based on the Advance2 engine demonstrator. Among the things being tested is an additive manufacturing high pressure compressor with geometric cooling channels for air to lower engine temperature and prolong engine life. The performance of the engine demonstrator components will inform the final engine design.


https://aviationweek.com/defense/aircraft-propulsion/gcap-engine-team-makes-progress-demonstrator

 

[momosir]

The name of the joint engine demonstrator is XFP30
It seems that the XFP30 is not intended to be installed in a GCAP.
https://www.ihi.co.jp/all_news/2025/aeroengine_space_defense/1201645_13758.html
XFP30
GCAPの搭載用エンジンに適用を目指す新たな技術を組み込み実証するとともに，GCAPの搭載用エンジンのリスク低減を図るためのエンジン
(XFP30　The engine is intended to demonstrate new technologies aimed at being incorporated into the GCAP Engine and to mitigate the risks associated with the GCAP Engine.)

 

[helmutkohl]

Pics today of the GCAP mock up at DSEI 2025 via GDH Defense

 

[raptor82]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1965665329578999970

View: https://x.com/raestimr/status/1965665329578999970?s=46&t=5THFve96Abhx7VANdlTzrg

https://twitter.com/x/status/1965696694202531992

View: https://x.com/rejercitos/status/1965696694202531992?s=46&t=5THFve96Abhx7VANdlTzrg

 

[raptor82]

IHI: the GCAP engine demonstrator is named XFP30


www.ihi.co.jp/all_news/2025/aeroengine_space_defense/1201645_13758.html

 

[JetBrain]

IHI: the GCAP engine demonstrator is named XFP30


www.ihi.co.jp/all_news/2025/aeroengine_space_defense/1201645_13758.html

But the "XFP30" is not mentioned in the corresponding "English page".

 

[VTOLicious]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1965665329578999970

View: https://x.com/raestimr/status/1965665329578999970?s=46&t=5THFve96Abhx7VANdlTzrg

https://twitter.com/x/status/1965696694202531992

View: https://x.com/rejercitos/status/1965696694202531992?s=46&t=5THFve96Abhx7VANdlTzrg

Any dimension given? It actually doesn't look that big on the pictures (F-22 size?)

 

[RavenOne]

Greetings from here of day 2 DSEI 2025 in London Excel and my photos of GCAP mock up.



Cheers

 

[Geo]

Any dimension given? It actually doesn't look that big on the pictures (F-22 size?)

Right.
Overall the mock-up appears at first glance even less massive than the F-22.

 

[FighterJock]

That is only a mockup Geo. The real thing when it is in service will probably be much larger.

 

[AuxJD]

Greetings from here of day 2 DSEI 2025 in London Excel and my photos of GCAP mock up.

View attachment 784252

"Everything's computer!" - DJT

 

[VTOLicious]

That is only a mockup Geo. The real thing when it is in service will probably be much larger.

If you're going to the trouble of building a full-scale mock-up, there's no reason to start skimping on plywood

 

[TorpedoJ]

If you're going to the trouble of building a full-scale mock-up, there's no reason to start skimping on plywood

Yes, but what about the unfeasibly short landing gear?

 

[FighterJock]

Is the landing gear from the Typhoon? It would be similar to how the F-117A had landing gear from the F/A-18 Hornet when Lockheed were building it.

 

[DWG]

Is the landing gear from the Typhoon?

No, the top of the nose gear leg on a Typhoon is about shoulder height, here it seems to be waist height, plus different positions for the trailing link, and two tyres here vs one on the Typhoon

 

[VTOLicious]

Yes, but what about the unfeasibly short landing gear?

Maybe borrowed from a Tornado?

 

[TorpedoJ]

Maybe borrowed from a Tornado?

Good spot, that looks just about perfect. That model is definitely smaller than the final GCAP is supposed to be, then.

 

[JetBrain]

View attachment 784260"Everything's computer!" - DJT

Good job, DELL.

 

[VTOLicious]

Good spot, that looks just about perfect. That model is definitely smaller than the final GCAP is supposed to be, then.

Maybe, maybe not...

 

[Jackonicko]

If you're going to the trouble of building a full-scale mock-up, there's no reason to start skimping on plywood

You size it for ease of transport, and in this case (I suspect) to enable you to modify one of the two Pregnant Pelican mock ups...

 

[Jackonicko]

.... which, you may recall, used the Tornado's landing gear, as will the new Combat Air Flying Demonstrator.

 

[TsrJoe]

previous full scale Tempest mockup (notional P.189 configuration) note Tornado undercarriage bolted to welded box section frame

 

[WatcherZero]

In addition to recycling a landing gear that was lying around, ease of stage access might also have been a factor in going for a lower height.

 

[DWG]

You size it for ease of transport, and in this case (I suspect) to enable you to modify one of the two Pregnant Pelican mock ups...

The main issue with 'is this full-scale or sub-scale?' is that not everything, cockpits for instance, scales linearly.

 

[TsrJoe]

Not really, the previous Tempest mockup touted around exhibitions, schools etc. had an oversized cockpit to facilitate visitor access, nb. its a non visually sensitive public display mockup, NOT an engineering study form

 

[DWG]

Not really, the previous Tempest mockup touted around exhibitions, schools etc. had an oversized cockpit to facilitate visitor access, nb. its a non visually sensitive public display mockup, NOT an engineering study form

Either way, it does make the point you can't assume it's a representative model of the final aircraft, which a lot of people here want to.

 

[FighterJock]

If they find something that is wrong with the model during testing then they will have to make changes to the final aircraft design.

 

[DWG]

https://www.rolls-royce.com/media/p...c&utm_campaign=defence&utm_content=gcap_pps25
TLDR: RR/Avio/IHI formalising their partnership.

"The partners are delivering progress on the engine demonstrator, advancing technologies in additive manufacturing, cooling systems and high-pressure compressor design, and more. The engineering teams of the three consortium partners have already conducted several trilateral reviews to approve the engine demonstrator design, following the completion of joint design iterations and have initiated the hardware procurement.

Among the recent milestones was a successful test of a revolutionary combustor developed with enhanced Additive Layer Manufacturing techniques to create unique geometric cooling pathways. The next-generation advanced cooling and material technologies enable higher operating temperatures for the turbine while allowing components to run cooler for extended range to enhance durability and sustainability across the engine’s service life."

Presumably the kind of labyrinthine pathways you couldn't create with either casting or machining, but which are comparatively easy with additive manufacturing.

 

[Jackonicko]

If they find something that is wrong with the model during testing then they will have to make changes to the final aircraft design.

That's not what this model is for at all. It's for display, for VIPs to sit in, etc.

 

[SspewixzzZ]

Greetings from here of day 2 DSEI 2025 in London Excel and my photos of GCAP mock up.

Cheers

I know it's just a model but the vertical tail design looks so unconventional

 

[Jackonicko]

I know it's just a model but the vertical tail design looks so unconventional

Have you looked at the YF-23?

 

[SspewixzzZ]

Have you looked at the YF-23?

I think there are still considerable differences between the two, but this is a model after all — what the final version will look like remains to be seen

 

[momosir]

https://www.mod.go.jp/atla/data/info/ny_kenkyu_koukuu/pdf/koukoku/koukoku07-039.pdf
Construction of a prototype with a Japanese CCA airframe has begun.
It is expected to be slightly larger than the XQ-67A.

 

[LordSyrupy]

Good job, DELL.

View attachment 784303

Good job, DELL.

View attachment 784303

Always nice to see countries take a chance on small defense startups! /s

 

[Forest Green]

Good job, DELL.

If it said Packard Bell then I'd be worried and expect the screen to be blue.

 

[TylrrTylrr]

Does this mean anything?

https://twitter.com/x/status/1972013568238170395

View: https://x.com/PetterPse/status/1972013568238170395