Thread by @GarethJennings3

Going through my @DefenceIQ #IFC2025 notes ahead of the anticipated launch of the #GCAP full development and design phase, and a very interesting conops has the aircraft acting as "the perfect parasite"...1/4

Speaking under Chatham House Rule, an official said that the goal is to mimic the conops of the MiG-29, of all things, in that it should be able to use any and all base infrastructure, weapons, etc, wherever it happens to be operating from. 2/4

"We aim to make GCAP ‘the perfect parasite’. Allegedly, the MiG-29 was the most NATO compliant platform ever built. The idea being that as [the Soviets] rolled over [NATO airbases], it would use NATO ground power, would use NATO bullets, would load a Sidewinder that it found in a weapons dump rather than a [Soviet] A-11. That concept is what we want to use within GCAP so that wherever we land, we can make maximum use of what we already find, and not rely on having to wait for a C-17 or something [to resupply]." 3/4

Just putting it out there, but with #Tempest not yet a done deal as a name for GCAP, perhaps #Mosquito might better suit the 'perfect parasite' design philosophy? 4/4

Programmatically, #GCAP is thundering along per the official at @DefenceIQ #IFC2025 - "Politically, we've achieved a number of things that were not deemed to be possible in the timescales [...] I think one of the things that is misunderstood is how far down the path of design and delivery we already are [...] The engine is leading this, and we have achieved a number of very significant milestones with the propulsion system over the last few months that put us well on the track towards starting to freeze the design and set the outer mould line."

In terms of GCAP's final outcome, the official noted, "The most important point that I want to take away is that #GCAP is being carefully and precisely designed to complement fourth, fifth and planned sixth generation systems. We are not competing with the F-35, and we're a different beast to the B-21 and the NGAD because we don't come from an air force that can afford to have seven or eight different platform types – we are building a Swiss Army Knife."

In terms of the #GCAP baseline capabilities, official stated prioritising payload, range and survivability (already largely deduced from latest design renderings), but specifically notes, "It needs 1,000 miles of ingress – that is now the entry standard for what we're talking about." Presumably requires 1,000 miles of egress also.