On the occasion of Farnborough International Airshow 2026, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, Air Marshal Antonio Conserva, visited the international exhibition, one of the leading global events dedicated to the aerospace, defence and security sectors, stopping in particular at the exhibition stand of the GCAP Agency – Global Combat Air Programme.
During the visit, the Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force had the opportunity to meet the staff of the international agency engaged in the coordination and development activities of the programme, discussing the main aspects relating to the implementation of the future 6th-generation aircraft. The occasion provided an opportunity to examine the conceptual progress of the programme in greater depth and to receive an update on the evolutionary lines that will guide the development of the new platform, destined to represent a central element of future operational capabilities in the aerospace domain.
General Conserva also boarded the Full Scale Replica, the life-size mock-up on static display at FIA 2026, where he received a briefing on the concept underlying the aircraft and its potential operational capabilities. The GCAP will not merely be a new combat aircraft, but a true system of systems, designed to operate in an integrated manner with sensors, platforms, command and control networks, unmanned assets and advanced digital capabilities. This approach meets the need to ensure information superiority, decision-making speed, interoperability and the ability to generate coordinated effects in future operational scenarios.
At the end of the visit, the Chief of Staff of the Air Force has emphasised the strategic importance of the GCAP programme for the future of the Armed Force, highlighting its value not only from a capability perspective, but also as a lever for technological, industrial and operational innovation. Indeed, the programme represents one of the main pathways through which the Italian Air Force looks to the evolution of the aerospace instrument, in line with the challenges posed by the new security scenarios and the increasing integration between the air, space, cyber and information domains.
Also present at the visit was Giandomenico Taricco, Commercial & Corporate Director of the GCAP Agency, who during meetings with various international delegations emphasised the value of Farnborough as a privileged setting to highlight the importance of collaboration between different skills. Taricco placed the emphasis on the coordinated contribution of professionals belonging to different functions, highlighting how meetings, presentations and activities carried out during the week were made possible by integrated and cross-functional work, considered one of the organisation's main strengths.
For the first time, the GCAP Agency and Edgewing participated with a dedicated joint exhibition stand, alongside leading aerospace institutions, government agencies and international industrial partners at one of the world's most authoritative industry events. More than a simple exhibition presence, this initiative represented a clear demonstration of the shared identity, achievements attained through cooperation and common vision that is driving the future of the programme. The event also highlighted the Enterprise Approach, based on centralised governance, a shared roadmap and integrated teams between the GCAP Agency and Edgewing.
The event also serves as a starting point for the future international activities of the GCAP Agency. The relationships developed during the event, the interest shown in the programme and the visibility gained will help to support the Agency's upcoming initiatives and consolidate its role within the international defence and aerospace community.
