UK Signals Openness to Germany Joining GCAP

British Prime Minister Andy Burnham told German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on 8 October 2026 that the UK is open to Germany joining the Global Combat Air Programme. Speaking alongside Merz on his first visit as prime minister, Burnham said he had indicated "our openness to Germany joining GCAP, the next generation of fighter aircraft" and that Britain would seek to progress the matter with partners Italy and Japan. GCAP aims to deliver a sixth-generation fighter by 2035 to replace the Typhoon and Japan's Mitsubishi F-2, with a flying demonstrator expected by 2027. Canada joined as GCAP's first observer nation in July. The invitation follows the collapse of a Franco-German warplane project. During the visit the two leaders launched a UK-Germany joint security partnership to counter hybrid threats including sabotage and cyber attacks, and discussed Ukraine support, Middle East instability, and Strait of Hormuz trade disruption. The partnership followed two reported drone attacks at Leipzig airport in August, one involving an explosive quadcopter near a Ukrainian cargo plane and another in which a cargo Boeing 757-23N struck an unidentified object and diverted to Hannover. Germany said in September that Russia was allegedly responsible; Russia denied involvement and Putin claimed Germany planted evidence. Interior minister Alexander Dobrindt said the attack followed a "well-established pattern of Russian hybrid operations in Europe."