Italy’s GCAP fighter costs triple to €18.6 billion, stirring political debate

Italy’s projected spending on the design and development of the tri-national Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) fighter jet has tripled over the past five years, rising from €6 billion to €18.6 billion, the country’s defence minister has told parliament.

The disclosure came in a formal request to lawmakers to authorise further payments for the programme and immediately drew criticism from the opposition Five Star Movement, Defense News writes. 

“This is the most expensive program in the history of the Italian military, overtaking the F-35 where €18 billion was spent on 90 aircraft,” Five Star parliamentarians said in a statement.

Italy is developing the sixth-generation fighter alongside the United Kingdom and Japan, with the partners aiming to bring the aircraft into service by 2035.

Details of the revised cost estimate were submitted this month to the defence commission of the Italian Senate and are due to be discussed on January 20, ahead of a vote expected next week. The proposal will also be examined by the defence commission of the lower house of parliament. Approval is considered likely in both chambers, given the majority held by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s governing coalition.

The new submission updates a document presented to parliament in 2021, which estimated Italy’s contribution at €6 billion for Phases 1 and 2 of the programme, covering “Concept Assessment and Preliminary Design” and subsequent “Full Development.”

According to the updated document, “which was initially estimated to be €6 billion for programme phases 1 and 2 has since been updated taking into account the increase in costs in technology maturation, testing and development and design, to an estimated €18.6 billion (at 2025 prices).”

The document, seen by Defense News, states that €2 billion has already been secured, partially funding Phase 1. An additional €16.6 billion will therefore be required to complete Phases 1 and 2.

Parliament is currently being asked to approve €8.8 billion in funding, to be paid out in annual installments extending to 2037. The remaining €7.8 billion needed to reach the €16.6 billion total would be arranged at a later date.

In its statement, the Five Star party said, “We don’t doubt the value of this program, but it is not acceptable that our parliamentary commissions are used as cash dispensers which issue billions like peanuts, without even supplying an in-depth and detailed explanation of this enormous increase in the expected expenditure.”

Despite the domestic controversy, Italy’s government has reaffirmed its commitment to the programme at the international level.

During a January 16 meeting in Tokyo between Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and Japanese Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae, the two leaders “expressed satisfaction for the progress of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP),” and confirmed “the importance of achieving the goal of delivering the first aircraft in 2035.”

By Sabina Mammadli