British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said on Thursday the U.K. is “open” to Germany joining the Global Combat Air Programme to develop a sixth-generation fighter jet, during his first official visit to Berlin. Speaking alongside German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Burnham confirmed he had “indicated” Britain’s willingness to include Germany in the GCAP initiative, which already includes the U.K., Italy, and Japan, with Canada as an observer. The move follows the collapse of a Franco-German sixth-generation fighter project earlier this year.
The proposed Tempest aircraft under GCAP will integrate AI and next-generation sensors, aiming to maintain Western air superiority amid rising threats from Russia and China. Burnham emphasized that progress would depend on collaboration with existing partners Italy and Japan. Linus Terhorst, a research fellow at the Royal United Services Institute, noted that Germany’s potential entry could bring additional financing and economies of scale but warned of possible disruptions if Berlin insists on significant design influence and industrial share .
Meanwhile, the U.S. Navy and Shield AI announced a combined $400 million commitment to develop the X-BAT, an AI-piloted vertical takeoff and landing fighter jet designed for runway-independent operations. Flight testing is scheduled to begin later this year .
