Canada’s involvement as an observer in the Global Combat Air Programme will further strengthen British bilateral defence cooperation with Canada, building on decades of close collaboration as Five Eyes members and NATO allies, according to answers given in Parliament.
James MacCleary, the Liberal Democrat member for Lewes, asked what assessment the department has made of the potential merits of Canada joining the Global Combat Air Programme as a full participant, and in a second question asked what discussions the Secretary of State has had with his Canadian counterpart on the same point.
Luke Pollard gave the same answer to both: “Canada’s involvement as an Observer in the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) will further strengthen the UK’s bilateral defence cooperation with Canada, building on decades of close collaboration as Five Eyes members and NATO Allies.”
Canada joined the programme as an observer nation this year, alongside a British commitment of £708 million into the technologies feeding the aircraft. Observer status gives Ottawa access to programme information and a seat from which to judge whether to go further, without the funding share, workshare and governance obligations that come with full membership.
GCAP runs between the United Kingdom, Italy and Japan, with the industrial work carried by Edgewing, the joint venture formed by BAE Systems, Leonardo and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Company, and the aircraft is intended to enter service in 2035. Adding a fourth full partner would mean reopening the workshare and governance arrangements that took the three founding nations years to settle.
Canada’s interest arrives while Ottawa is reviewing its own fast jet plans, having committed to the F-35 and then reopened the question amid the wider deterioration in its relationship with Washington. A European-led sixth generation programme offers an alternative industrial partnership for a country that builds aerostructures and avionics at scale.
After the latest goings on with trump/musk cutting starliink speeds to Ukraine,cutting arms and aid to Ukraine ,diesel deals with pootin etc it shows that to actually rely on the US is becoming an increasingly dangerous game! You can’t blame Canada looking elsewhere at Grippen and now GCAP for their aircraft!
Canada invested in Telesat and MDA for low Earth orbit satellite infrastructure for defence communications. Particularly for the Arctic. This was announced three months ago. Starlink was avoided. In addition the Australian over the horizon radar was bought in conjunction.
16 x F35s is what Canada is committed to but it could go to 33. The GCAP program would enhance and maybe replace the F35 and maybe Gripens (if purchased) over time.