Britain plans to invite Canada to join the GCAP fighter jet program
The new British government plans to invite Canada to join the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP), under which the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan are developing a next-generation fighter jet. This was reported by European Truth, citing Reuters.
Canada is expected to join the program as an observer. This will mark the first expansion of GCAP’s membership beyond the three founding nations. Observer status will not entail any financial obligations for Canada.
In the future, Canada may join the project on a more formal basis, assuming a share of the development costs amounting to one billion dollars, as well as potentially placing orders for these aircraft. Canada seeks to diversify its defense spending by reducing its dependence on the United States and deepening ties with European partners.
The British government’s announcement regarding GCAP coincides with the Farnborough Airshow—one of the leading events in the aerospace and defense industries.
Italy, the United Kingdom, and Japan launched the GCAP program in December 2022. Its goal is to develop a next-generation fighter jet by 2035 that will combine manned and unmanned platforms, sensors, and data transmission networks. Italy had previously suggested that other countries might join the project.
