As the Farnborough International Airshow 2024 opens its doors, the three partner nations of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), Italy, the UK and Japan, presented a scale mock-up of the Sixth Generation fighter (core platform) with a different design in comparison to the models presented so far.

The scale model, on display at the GCAP stand, features a completely revised wing, with a greater surface and wingspan, and a (nearly) cropped delta configuration that has replaced the previous compound configuration with a cranked trailing edge. The two vertical drifts remain more or less the same as those of the previous model.

Such a solution could be inspired by the Eurofighter-derived design tradition, and would suggest the goal of moving towards a mother fighter with high range and speed performance, as well as generous load.

During the show, several novelties are expected from the Lead System Integrators (BAE Systems, Leonardo and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries) and Lead Sub-System Integrators (Avio Aero, Elt Group, Leonardo Italy and UK, MBDA Italy and UK, Rolls-Royce UK, IHI and Mitsubishi Electric for Japan), on which we will keep you updated thanks to the presence at the show of our correspondents.