MBDA’s UK, MBDA Italia and Japan’s Mitsubishi Electric Corporation have announced at DSEI 2023 the signing of a collaboration agreement to work towards an Effects Domain to support the design of core-platform as part of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).
In this Effects domain, the three companies will work together to ensure the seamless integration of weapons for the GCAP platform. Looking to the future, the collaboration will also include working on weapon effects management and related technologies.
Major defense programs
The collaboration agreement is focused on aligning national approaches to the Effector integration of the GCAP partners, it does not include the joint development of effectors. MBDA, a world leader in complex weapon systems, has a long history of working collaboratively on major defense programs, both between its national companies and with other major companies.
The collaboration agreement is focused on aligning national approaches to the Effector integration
As part of the UK's Team Tempest effort at the start of 2018, and expanding in 2019 as Italy joins the growing program, the company brings decades of experience in integrating and developing weapon systems for various Combat Air platforms. Mitsubishi Electric is a recognized pioneer in its field. The company played a key role in Japan's F-2 program and has been involved in the development of Japan's FX next-generation fighter program.
Domains - mission systems
Now that Japan, the UK and Italy have joined forces to create the Global Combat Air Programme, Mitsubishi Electric is also working with Leonardo and Elettronica on GCAP's advanced electronics.
This experience and combined expertise will be fundamental in ensuring that the GCAP effects domain works in harmony with the platform's other domains - mission systems, sensors, power - exploiting the information advantage they will provide and together maximizing mission effectiveness. Giving GCAP customers a decisive advantage in the Combat Air.