India joins the GCAP programme as a dialogue partner

[Indos]

India joins the GCAP programme as a dialogue partner​

By Fabrice Wolf
08/30/2026

India has obtained dialogue partner status in the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), led by the United Kingdom, Japan and Italy. This opening comes as New Delhi pursues its Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) and simultaneously seeks to contain the numerical and technological growth of China’s air forces.

Its participation in GCAP does not call this national programme into question, but it now puts Indian officials in contact with a 6th-generation combat aircraft expected around 2035.

India joins the GCAP programme as a dialogue partner

India has gained GCAP dialogue partner status while pursuing the AMCA and assessing options to counter China’s next-generation combat aircraft.

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