Possible Access of Saudi Arabia to the Global Combat Air Programme

The CEO of Leonardo, Roberto Cingolani, expressed that he is open to Saudi Arabia's involvement in the trinational project to build an advanced combat aircraft, provided the UK reduces its commitments. Specifically, Cingolani would be 'personally very open' to a reallocation of resources following the defense expenditure review of the new British Labour regiment. A fourth partner could benefit the consortium, Cingolani said at the Farnborough Airshow in an interview with the Financial Times. Speculation about a possible reduction in British commitment to the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), led together with Italy and Japan, continues to persist. Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer emphasized the importance of the program but left open how the review would ultimately turn out. The GCAP was launched to counter rising threats from China and Russia. The UK's largest defense companies, BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce, are working alongside Leonardo and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries on this project, which aims to build a combat aircraft by 2035. Saudi Arabia, which has a keen interest in participating in the project and already maintains long-standing defense relationships with the UK, could contribute both industrial capabilities and new manpower. Industry analysts believe that Saudi Arabia could still gain a partnership role even if the UK does not reduce its support. Saudi involvement could also open up the export market in the Middle East and lead to further orders of Eurofighter Typhoon jets. The companies are currently working to finalize the industrial structure of the GCAP, with copyright issues and areas of competency still under discussion. While Cingolani expressed dissatisfaction with the negotiations, he noted that progress is being made. Leonardo is contributing its expertise in advanced defense electronics and 'System of Systems' technology, which aims to network the combat jets. However, the precise division of work is not yet ready for discussion. Defense industry executives privately downplayed the possibility of a UK cancellation. Rolls-Royce CEO Tufan Erginbilgiç stressed the significance of the GCAP both in terms of its capabilities and its industrial importance. Rolls-Royce already employs 1,000 people in this project.