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Global Combat Air Programme: National Income

Asked by Ben Obese-JectyConservativeMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 9 September 2025UIN 74118

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the projected contribution of the Tempest Global Combat Air Programme to GDP.

Answered by Luke Pollard

The primary contribution of Defence to GDP is peace and security. There is no sustainable growth without peace, but the contribution GCAP makes to UK peace and security is not amenable to quantitative assessment. GCAP and the wider Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme provide a key element of the UK’s future defence posture. There are over 4,500 people working on the FCAS programme, with GCAP at its core, across the UK. The government is investing over £3 billion and industry has invested over £700 million to co-fund research and development, grow our world-class STEM skills, and develop new digital and industrial capabilities, supporting economic growth.

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