Tempest: GCAP picks Reading as command centre for 6th generation fighter jet
July 7, 2025
The global headquarters for the GCAP joint initiative have been officially confirmed, as the three nations double down on efforts to develop a 6th generation fighter jet.
The facility will host the GCAP international government organisation as well as the new joint venture known as Edgewing, which works on the aircraft development.
The Global Air Combat Programme (GCAP) brings together the UK, Japan and Italy, in a strategic collaboration to develop a successor to the Eurofighter Typhoon and Japan’s Mitsubishi F-2.
Cutting edge, global headquarters to be based in… Reading
It was known since 2023 that the GCAP headquarters would be located in the UK, when it was specified in a treaty signed with Japan and Italy to develop an innovative stealth fighter jet.
What wasn’t known was where in the UK the HQ would be. Now, it has been revealed to be at 350 Brook Drive in Green Park, Reading.
Located to the south of Reading, Green Park business park sits within the UK’s largest town, which has a combined population of 355,000. While it might seem less attractive than being based in the capital, Reading is strategically located just 30 miles from London Heathrow, and has easy access to the rest of the UK via the M4 motorway.
Speaking to the Reading Chronicle, Maria Eagle, the minister for defence procurement, described the location as ‘brilliant,’ noting it was well connected to London, Bristol and beyond.
“There will be about 100 local jobs here, which is an immediate benefit, and of course, as the programme goes on, there may be other opportunities that arise that people from here can take advantage of,” she said.
Accelerating progress on ‘Tempest’ 6th generation fighter jet
The UK and its partners are intensifying efforts to accelerate the development of ‘Tempest,’ the 6th generation fighter jet under development by BAE Systems and partners. This has translated into various bodies and departments being created, to ensure the three partners get an equal voice in the end product.
This began with the formation of the GCAP International Government Organisation, or GIGO, established in December 2023. This coincided with the signing of the Treaty on the Establishment of the Global Combat Air Programme, formalising the partnership.
More recently, the establishment of the Edgewing joint venture between BAE Systems, Leonardo (Italy), and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co (JAIEC) gave the programme its defined design authority.
With a global HQ established, a test platform revealed, and reports suggesting that key flight tests have been brought forward, momentum behind the Tempest fighter’s development is clearly accelerating.
“Through this work we are helping to ensure the UK remains at the forefront of combat air power innovation for decades to come,” said Eagle, “and that defence is an engine for growth across the country.”
