The Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) continues to progress toward production of a sixth-generation fighter. This presents an opportunity for Canada to join with the UK, Japan, and Italy while reducing our reliance on the United States, but we must seize it before it’s too late.
According to the UK Defence Journal, key firms from GCAP partner nations are formalizing their cooperation:
“Significant milestones in the programme’s governance have been reached in recent months. A new trilateral body, the GCAP International Government Organisation (GIGO), has been established to coordinate timelines and strategic goals across the UK, Japan, and Italy.
Meanwhile, industry partners BAE Systems, Leonardo, and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co Ltd (JAIEC) have agreed to form a new joint venture company to oversee development of the aircraft. Both the GIGO and the new industrial headquarters will be based in Reading, placing the UK at the heart of programme delivery.”
As noted in a previous column, Canada would be wise to join the GCAP, something Australia is also considering:
“Joining the GCAP would be a clear expression of Canada’s desire to reduce our dependence upon the United States. Amid rising unpredictability in U.S. foreign policy, Canada must look elsewhere. The U.K., Japan, Italy, and Australia – assuming Australia joins as well – are all good fits as technologically advanced ‘middle power’ nations that are wealthy on a per capita basis while lacking the critical population mass of the United States. Together, middle powers can function as great powers, and pooling our resources to develop a sixth-generation stealth fighter would be a wise move. Canada would add 40 million people and over $2 trillion in GDP to the program, and our well-developed aerospace and tech sectors could help speed up the project. Combined, Canada, the U.K., Australia, Italy, and Japan have a GDP of nearly $14 trillion, lagging only the United States and China.”
As GCAP nations deepen their integration, the cost of Canada’s participation could rise. The more work those nations put in, the more they will rightfully demand from Canada. That’s why we shouldn’t waste any more time. Joining the GCAP ASAP would be a wise move for the Carney Government, as it would signify our determination to reduce our reliance upon the United States, strengthen our ties with the UK, Italy, and Japan, and help build up our aerospace sector.
Spencer Fernando
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