The Sauds want to join a British-Italian-Japanese consortium that develops a 6th generation fighter project.
The UK, Italy and Japan are the 3 countries that participate in the GCAP (Global Combat Air Programme). Its goal is to make a fresh generation fighter to win the Eurofighters Typhoon.
Now the Saudis want to join this global program. Riyadh offers crucial financial support and its engineers. The Saudis want to join the GCAP for 2 reasons:
1. Germany blocks the sale of Eurofighters to the Kingdom (Eurofighters are produced in an global consortium). In 2018, Germany introduced a ban on exports to countries fighting in Yemen. The contract with the Saudis was signed by the British BAE Systems, but any of the components for the Eurofighters are produced in Germany.
2. For respective years, the Saudis have been focusing on strengthening their own weapons industry. The Saudis estimation that in the 1920s, they pump about $20 billion into their armory. By 2030, 50% of the equipment that the army buys is to be produced in the Kingdom – unrealistic, but this is an expression of MbS's tremendous ambition (the successor of the throne).
However, the GCAP countries will most likely not let the Sauds to enter the Programme. They fear leaks of confidential information and delays in work – the production of a fresh fighter is expected to start in 2030. The GCAP countries besides do not see how the participation of Saudi engineers would improve their work.
The nipponese express most doubts about joining the GCAP.
The most knowing of the situation of the Saudis is London, but here besides it is hard to talk of the British support for joining the Saudis in the GCAP.
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