Canada next week may become official participant of Global Combat Air Program (GCAP), joining as observer — although it will not be full project participant providing for sixth-generation fighter creation, it may quite receive access to confidential project information as well as make contribution to pilot training technology development using aviation simulators.
However, as Breaking Defense reports, British government spokesperson did not confirm this information to them but emphasized GCAP project remains open to others. Canadian and other participating country government representatives also declined to comment, so it is rather a matter of agreement to wait for official event scheduled July 21 — on this day in London, Ottawa's GCAP observer accession arrangements should be agreed.
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Defense Express recalls this is not first time Canadian GCAP accession topic surfaces in media. Last year, for example, this question sounded in context of how realistic this is, since project may be implemented with delay (which Japanese are very dissatisfied with), so Canadians after CF-18 Hornet retirement may be left without replacement aircraft.
Although concept of being left without replacement is quite conditional, as Canada is currently generally considering mixed fleet of Gripen and F-35 fighters and overall plans 140 additional aircraft procurement, whose potential may quite suffice to last until sixth-generation fighters appear.
However Ottawa already being warned — mixed fleet of different aircraft types may cause difficulties in further operation — such view was expressed by senior advisor of authoritative Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) Mark Cancian.
At the same time, Canada has so far announced desire to join GCAP as observer, and full project participation, let alone sixth-generation aircraft procurement, is still far away.
Moreover, GCAP may ultimately become not addition to Gripen or F-35 but their future replacement.
Previously Defense Express reported FCAD demonstrator details from new GCAP fighter project appeared, which will potentially be larger than Su-57 and F-22, and is already 75% complete.
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