Production lines for Eurofighter Typhoon fighters are filled until assembly of sixth-generation combat aircraft begins under the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). Defense giant BAE Systems announced this at a meeting with financial analysts.
According to Defense News, this success is thanks to additional fighter orders from Italy and Spain at the end of 2024, from Germany in October 2025, as well as Türkiye joining the program.
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Eurofighter Typhoon deliveries will continue through the mid-2030s. This is exactly what is needed, as the sixth-generation GCAP program from Italy, the United Kingdom, and Japan is scheduled to enter service in 2035.
At the same time, BAE is still working with partners on plans to increase annual production of current fighters from 14 now to 20 in 2028 and up to 30 even later. The Turkish order reportedly helps implementation.
Defense Express notes that overall this is quite good news for involved European countries. They will be able to both strengthen their own defense capabilities as well as ensure industrial capabilities.
Maintaining active production is very important, as it will enable a simpler transition to sixth-generation fighter production. If relevant capacity had stopped, time for mastering new products could increase substantially, with possible need to start deploying lines from scratch.
Regarding Eurofighter Typhoon work distribution, BAE Systems manufactures the forward fuselage and vertical stabilizer, Airbus produces the center fuselage and right wing, Leonardo makes the left wing. The rear fuselage is supplied by BAE together with Leonardo.
It should be noted that GCAP is currently not as smooth as it seems, as Italians accuse the British of unwillingness to share technologies. This could genuinely affect implementation timelines, with first flight scheduled for 2028. Overall project cost is estimated at €56 billion.
Interestingly, BAE speaks of readiness for new Eurofighter Typhoon orders despite production lines being booked years ahead. This will most likely be ensured precisely by increasing production volumes, as mentioned earlier.
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