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Italy has opposed giving Germany an equal role in the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), the next-generation fighter jet project it shares with Britain and Japan, proposing instead that Berlin take low-level observer status, the Financial Times (FT) reported, citing three people familiar with the matter.
Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto made the case during an online meeting with his British and Japanese counterparts this week, suggesting Germany hold observer status like Canada, which would give it no role in the aircraft’s design or development.
"Italy confirmed its willingness to accept Germany, but to speed up the process it was suggested that Germany be an observer," an Italian government official told the newspaper.
A German official called the offer "unacceptable," adding that Berlin wants full membership with financial contributions and a substantial industrial work share.
Italy and Japan are wary of adding a partner to an already complex program, fearing delays and the loss of work for their aerospace companies if German firms, including Airbus, join, officials from both countries told the FT.
Tokyo and Rome reacted nervously when British Prime Minister Andy Burnham declared his "openness" to Germany joining during an Oct. 8 visit to Berlin.
A British official said the U.K. was not pushing for Germany’s inclusion but had closer contacts with Berlin and believed it deserved a hearing, while sharing concerns about the timeline. "If they’re jumping on the bus, the bus can’t slow down," the official said.
The three partners agreed to continue discussions as a trio.
Britain is "fully committed to delivering GCAP at pace alongside our partners, Italy and Japan” and “open to exploring credible options for future participation by other nations," the UK Ministry of Defense said.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said a decision would depend on whether joining "would actually be beneficial for Germany, specifically, whether there is a reasonable balance between the work share, the timeline and Germany’s share of the costs."
Germany has sought alternatives since its Future Combat Air System (FCAS) with France and Spain collapsed in June amid an industrial dispute between Dassault Aviation and Airbus.
Berlin’s other main option is a partnership with Sweden’s Saab, though political uncertainty in Stockholm after a tight September election could delay talks.
Pistorius wants a decision by the end of March, saying the capability "must be ready by the early 2040s, one way or another."
"We are keen to understand Germany’s requirements and to see if there is synergy," British Defense Minister Wes Streeting said earlier this month, stressing any decision must be joint.
Pistorius noted Britain and Italy spent five years negotiating GCAP contracts.
Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury has said joining GCAP is a "potential" solution, and Airbus executives planned talks with BAE Systems on possible cooperation, including on GCAP, collaborative combat aircraft and combat cloud software.
BAE, Leonardo and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries have already agreed on key work share and intellectual property arrangements, and the partners aim to have the jet in service by 2035.
GCAP is set to replace the Eurofighter Typhoon and Mitsubishi F-2, and the partners have allotted more than $5.5 billion to the program, as Italy’s stance complicates Germany’s GCAP bid.
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