Germany could join GCAP fighter jet project, Burnham says

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said he was open to Germany joining the Global Combat Air Programme, a next-generation fighter jet project run by Britain, Italy and Japan.

Burnham said during a visit to Berlin on Thursday that he had told German Chancellor Friedrich Merz about Britain's “openness to Germany joining GCAP” in discussions earlier in the day. He said he hoped to work with Italy and Japan “in the coming period” on the issue.

Merz, standing alongside Burnham, did not comment on the proposal.

GCAP is intended to replace the Eurofighter Typhoon and Mitsubishi F-2 jets used by Britain, Italy and Japan.

Germany's rival Future Combat Air System project with France and Spain fell apart in June amid disputes between the companies involved. French and German officials have said other parts of the FCAS project, including networked combat systems and drones to accompany the fighter, will continue.

Adding Germany to GCAP could be complicated because major firms in Britain, Italy and Japan, including BAE Systems, Leonardo and Mitsubishi, have already divided up much of the work.