Italy doubles GCAP combat air funding to over $8 billion in latest defence budget
Italy has said it will be an equal partner in the GCAP next-generation fighter programme. (Photo: author)
The Italian MoD will invest more than €7.7 billion ($8.1 billion) into the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) and Tempest sixth-generation fighter between 2029 and 2037, doubling the previously promised €3.8 billion – although the new figure also covers an extra year.
In a document published on 16 October, the MoD outlined its multi-year defence planning for the three-year period of 2023-2025. In the shorter term, Italy is spending only €271 million as opposed to the planned €345 million, but it will contribute €99.6 million instead of €3.6 million in 2024, €101 million in 2025 and €497 million between 2026 and 2028.
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