MBDA UK, MBDA Italia and Japan's Mitsubishi Electric Corporation announced at DSEI 2023 the signing of a collaboration agreement to work on the effects domain and support the design of the core platform as part of the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP).
The three companies will work together in the effects domain to ensure the seamless integration of weapons systems on the GCAP platform. Looking to the future, the collaboration will also include activities on weapons management and related technologies. The collaboration agreement is intended to align the national approaches of the GCAP partners on effector integration and does not include the joint development of the effectors themselves.
MBDA, a world leader in complex weapons systems, has a long history of collaboration on major defense programs. Already engaged with Britain's Team Tempest since early 2018, and expanding collaboration on the program in development through Italy's membership in 2019, the company brings decades of experience in the development and integration of weapons systems for various air combat platforms.
Mitsubishi Electric is a recognized global leader in its industry. The company played a key role in Japan's F-2 program and was involved in the development of Japan's FX next-generation fighter program. Now that Japan, the United Kingdom and Italy have joined forces to create the Global Combat Air program, Mitsubishi Electric is also working with Leonardo and Elt Group on advanced GCAP electronics.
This experience and joint expertise will be key to ensuring that the GCAP effects domain works in harmony with the other domains of the platform - mission systems, sensors, energy - taking advantage of the information advantage they will provide and jointly maximizing mission effectiveness, offering This gives GCAP customers a decisive advantage in air combat.
