Canada Joins GCAP As Observer

FARNBOROUGH, England—Canada has formally joined the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) as an observer.

“This is an important milestone for Canada,” Defense Minister David McGuinty said during a visit to London.

Canada is the first country to be an observer on the British-Italian-Japanese effort to develop a sixth-generation fighter due to enter service around 2035.

“Observer status will give Canada the opportunity to deepen its understanding of next-generation combat air capabilities, strengthen our industrial collaboration and contribute more closely to the partnerships that will define the future of air power,” a joint statement issued by the four countries said.

The announcement was also the first to be made by the UK’s new Defense Secretary Wes Streeting, who was appointed to the role on July 20 by new Prime Minister Andy Burnham.

“Canada will gain direct insight and privileged access into GCAP, including capability development, industrial collaboration and long-term delivery plans,” Streeting said. “GCAP means air superiority. Our nation needs it and this government is backing it.”

Streeting said the partner nations were looking forward to “sharing expertise and working on technological advances” in support of the program.

Leonardo CEO Lorenzo Mariani said he welcomes Canada’s becoming an observer. “Any other nation joining the program as an observer with industrial capability and financial capability, I think, would make benefit to the program in the long term,” he said. Having a country join would only be an issue if it disrupted the program’s pace. McGuinty said Canada’s aerospace and defense industry was ready to help meet that challenge.

Under the observer arrangement, Canada will not have a decision-making role. But the status gives them “privileged access to the program” and paves the way for future discussions on a potential future participation and contribution.

Canada’s interest in the platform emerges as the administration of Prime Minister Mark Carney considers the purchase of Saab Gripens for its near-term combat aircraft needs to augment its fleet of Lockheed Martin F-35s, partly in response to the geopolitical issues with the neighboring U.S. government.

At the same time, Burnham said he was following the policy laid out by the previous UK administration of Prime Minister Keir Starmer and was “recommitting” to the GCAP program.