Poland Eyes Joining Next-Generation Fighter Program
Deputy Minister Konrad Gołota has confirmed that Poland is in talks to join the GCAP program, an international project led by the UK, Italy, and Japan to develop a sixth-generation fighter jet.
Poland Knocks on the Door of an Elite Club
Poland is engaged in preliminary discussions about joining the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) — one of the most ambitious defense projects worldwide. Deputy Minister of State Assets Konrad Gołota confirmed in an interview with TVP Info that he has met with representatives of the defense industries of Italy and Japan in recent months.
"We need to catch up in this area, because we haven't produced aircraft in Poland for decades," Gołota said, emphasizing that the partners are showing "understanding for our proposal and a willingness to continue discussions."
What is GCAP?
GCAP is a joint program of the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan, announced in December 2022. Its goal is to develop a sixth-generation fighter jet to replace the Eurofighter Typhoon in the air forces of the UK and Italy, and the Mitsubishi F-2 in Japan. The new platform is expected to be ready for deployment after 2035 — although realistically, the timeframe is more likely to be 2040 or later.
The program envisions the integration of stealth technology, artificial intelligence, and the ability to operate with unmanned combat platforms. The estimated development cost reaches $60 billion.
Rising Costs Spark Concern
Italy, one of the three pillars of the program, is experiencing a sharp increase in costs. Initially, Italy's share in the development phase was estimated at around 6 billion euros (at 2021 prices). According to updated calculations from early 2026, this amount has increased to 18.6 billion euros — three times more than planned. In February 2026, the Italian parliament approved 8.8 billion euros for the conceptual and development phases, making GCAP Italy's most expensive defense program — even more expensive than the purchase of 90 F-35 fighter jets.
What Can Poland Offer?
Warsaw does not aspire to be an equal partner — it realizes that full participation is unattainable both financially and technologically. Poland is seeking partner status, which would ensure technology transfer and the participation of domestic industry in selected segments of the project.
According to analysts at Defence24, Poland possesses valuable expertise in the areas of:
- software and artificial intelligence algorithm development,
- communication systems,
- unmanned platform technologies.
A concrete step towards closer ties with the consortium was the signing in March 2026 of a memorandum of cooperation between Rolls-Royce and the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ) in the field of propulsion technologies for the Polish armed forces.
A Lesson from the Past
Experts recall that in 2008, Poland rejected an invitation to the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program as an industrial partner, becoming only an export customer. Today, this decision is widely regarded as a missed opportunity. Participation in GCAP could be a "huge boost to the innovativeness of the Polish economy," according to Defence24.
At the same time, Poland faces other urgent purchasing decisions — it is considering ordering additional squadrons of fighter jets, including potentially F-35s, Eurofighter Typhoons, or F-15EXs. The key question is whether Warsaw will be able to reconcile current modernization needs with the long-term vision of participating in a sixth-generation program.
