Canada has joined the Global Combat Air Programme as its first Observer Nation, the Ministry of Defence has announced, with the UK, Italy and Japan opening the door to future Canadian participation in the sixth-generation fighter effort in an announcement made on Wes Streeting’s first day as Defence Secretary.
The announcement came as Streeting hosted his Japanese, Italian and Canadian counterparts, Shinjirō Koizumi, Guido Crosetto and David McGuinty, at Wellington Barracks in London. Canada will gain direct insight into GCAP, including capability development, industrial collaboration and long-term delivery plans, through structured engagement with the partner nations, and while it will not have a decision-making role, the MoD says observer status gives Ottawa privileged access to the programme and paves the way for discussions on Canada’s future participation and contribution.
“The first duty of any government is to keep our country safe. That’s why I’m pushing this programme forward on my very first day in the job. GCAP continues to strengthen our security, drive technological innovation and create highly skilled jobs across the UK,” Streeting said, as quoted in the announcement. “We are proud to welcome Canada to this new phase of engagement and look forward to sharing expertise and working on technological advances as we continue to deliver this groundbreaking programme.”
Prime Minister Andy Burnham tied the announcement to his first commitments in office. “As I said on the steps of Downing Street, we are going to honour our commitments on defence – and use that investment to transform people’s lives. And we are going to work even more closely with our allies,” he said, as quoted in the announcement. “So today, we are not just recommitting to our state-of-the-art GCAP fighter programme – but I am delighted to announce that Canada will join the programme as the first Observer Nation. GCAP is already one of the world’s most ambitious defence and industrial partnerships – supporting 4,500 jobs across the UK. Today’s announcement makes it even stronger.”
The move builds on decades of collaboration between the UK and Canada as Five Eyes members and NATO allies, and folds Ottawa into a programme delivering a sixth-generation aircraft designed to operate alongside capabilities including the F-35, using advanced autonomy, AI, uncrewed systems and next-generation sensors to maintain air superiority. Canada has been weighing its future fighter arrangements amid a publicly troubled relationship with its F-35 purchase, making a structured window into the leading non-American sixth-generation effort a significant hedge, and observer status creates the first formal mechanism for a fourth nation to draw close to a partnership whose founders have previously fielded interest from countries including Saudi Arabia.
Great news, bringing Canada onboard even just as an observer isn’t to be sniffed at.
It’s an ideal platform for their needs. They either use a platform like Gripen that can be used from numerous scattered bases or they use a very highly capable, large long range platform that can cruise and scan over very large areas for long periods in a very fused manner. I think that Canada will get the Gripen to use in the way it does best, use a small number of F-35s for the higher end capability and then in the later thirties if all goes well gradually supplement and then gradually replace all or most with Tempest. But obviously Tempest has to prove itself, but it’s the clear and obvious choice as things stand. Now will this bring others to the table too and if so when.
A 21st Century AVRO Arrow
Yes, Tempest is that big!
May they be the first of many
Great a defence sec with no experience. At least Jarvo had credibility even though he was an ex Pongo
It doesn’t have to be a problem IF he listens to those who do have experience.
I don’t agree, I don’t see why not being ex military means Streeting will be a failure.
DoH ministers are not surgeons or doctors.
The minister in charge of the DoT isn’t a train driver.
Streeting is a high profile figure t in Labour whose run a big Department of State before.
He’s needed to sort out waste and fight for the Department, which I believe as an ambitious politician who wanted the top job he will do.
Let the military provide the expertise in military matters.
I’m hopeful he will be a success.
So far, I’m agreeing with everything Burnham has done, and agree with his desire for reindustrialisation, hopefully by military investment.
Agreed 👍
Agreed. Streeting is a loud mouth who claimed he was going to sort out the NHS. He didn’t even resolve the doctor’s dispute, before resigning to stab Starmer in the back. A disaster for defence is what he will be.
Trumps attitude to his allies has gone way beyond legitimate chastisement for over reliance on the US and is far better than any sales patter inviting nations to get involved and purchasing GCAP.
Keep it up Donald.
Great news, America can be allowed to buy a watered down tempest export ‘no cards’ version.
Political spin aside, this is encouraging news. Fingers crossed it will result in orders in the future.
Excellent news. Just what Canada will need in thr future.
Is Canada joining good news? I saw a news report suggesting Canadian companies might get or want a share of the work? Which we don’t need, it will be more delays with unrealistic demands, followed by whining about the cost. Look at the horlicks their ‘type 26’ has turned into. The only reason they are here is because FCAS is dead and the politics involved with the yanks is difficult. Sell it to them but on our terms, when it’s ready.
Canada has very deep pockets and a very competent defence sector
Does it? Is that why their navy is even more shagged out than ours.
Canada has invested little in Defence, but it can afford to, and is now spending more.
It’s hit 2% this year, and is on track to hit 3.5% end of the decade and 5% after that.
Canada recorded a Government Debt to GDP of 113.50 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product in 2025.