Airbus to hold talks with BAE over role in GCAP jet programme, FT reports

Oct 25 (Reuters) - Airbus executives will meet counterparts from BAE Systems to explore how the European planemaker could join the British company's fighter jet program, the Financial Times reported on Sunday, citing people familiar with the matter.

Britain, Italy and Japan launched the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) in 2022 to develop a next-generation stealth fighter by 2035, led by Britain's BAE Systems, Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Italy's Leonardo.

An Airbus spokesperson, when contacted for comment, said: "Airbus is fundamentally open to partnerships, provided they grant the German, Spanish and European industry substantial and equal participation in development, production, and operational use."

Airbus would require a prompt policy decision from German and Spanish political leaders to firmly establish the development roadmap and industrial structure, regardless of the partnership model, the spokesperson added.

BAE did not respond to Reuters' request for comment.

At the meeting, Airbus and BAE executives will discuss alternative areas for cooperation, such as on autonomous "collaborative combat aircraft", the report said.

Another area of cooperation could be the so-called combat cloud, or digital backbone, that would enable data exchange between jets, drones and sensors such as ground radar, the report added.

The report comes after British Prime Minister Andy Burnham said earlier this month that the UK was open to Germany joining the GCAP. It expanded for the first time in July when Canada joined as an observer, potentially paving the way for deeper involvement.

Saudi Arabia has long been touted as another country interested in joining.

(Reporting by Gnaneshwar Rajan and Nethra Sailesh in Bengaluru; Editing by Alison Williams, David Holmes and Saumyadeb Chakrabarty)