Italian Leonardo open to Saudi role in fighter jet project

Roberto Cingolani, head of the Italian defense group Leonardo, has expressed openness to Saudi Arabia joining the tri-national project aimed at developing an advanced fighter jet, contingent on Britain reducing its commitment.

Cingolani’s remarks were made during the Farnborough Air Show, amid ongoing speculation regarding the U.K.’s defense policy review.

Cingolani noted that having Saudi Arabia as a fourth partner could be highly beneficial for the consortium, especially if there were a reallocation of resources following the U.K.’s defense spending review. He emphasized the potential industrial capability and fresh labor resources that Saudi Arabia could bring to the table.

UK’s defense policy review, GCAP commitment

The Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) is a collaborative effort between the U.K., Italy and Japan to develop a next-generation fighter jet by 2035. The U.K, Italy, and Japan signed an international treaty in 2023 to consolidate their separate projects into a unified effort.

During his visit to the Farnborough Air Show, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer underscored the importance of the GCAP but acknowledged that the defense policy review was still underway. Industry analysts suggest that even if the U.K. maintains its support, Saudi Arabia could still secure a partnership role, potentially opening up other Middle Eastern countries as export markets.

Potential Benefits and Challenges

Saudi Arabia has a longstanding defense relationship with the U.K. and is a significant purchaser of Eurofighter Typhoon jets. Their involvement in the GCAP could expedite new orders for Typhoon jets from the U.K., with ongoing talks for the sale of 48 aircraft to Riyadh.

Despite the potential benefits, there are concerns about meeting the tight deadline of having a jet ready by 2035. The companies involved are working to finalize the industrial construct for GCAP, with issues such as ownership of intellectual property and workshare distribution causing delays.