Canada Joins GCAP Sixth-Generation Fighter Programme as Observer; Bombardier and BAE Systems Sign Agreement on Canada's Role
Why It MattersCanadian industry is positioning for a share of a European-Japanese fighter programme, a sign that Canada's defence aerospace supply chain is being steered away from dependence on American fighter procurement.
Canada has joined the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) as an observer nation, alongside the United Kingdom, Italy and Japan. Last week, Bombardier and BAE Systems signed a strategic agreement defining Canada's designated role in developing the GCAP future combat aircraft, several months after Canada officially joined the programme.
The agreement covers research and development ahead of advanced aircraft manufacturing, systems and technology integration, and aspects of global supply chain management. Stephen McCullough, Bombardier's vice president of engineering, told ADVANCE that it is intended to lay a foundation for continuous collaboration across the companies' primary technologies and industrial capabilities, and that it will bring economic and employment benefits, creating knowledge-intensive jobs across Canada.
GCAP aims to build a sixth-generation fighter aircraft, developed by the three founding nations with Canada as an observer, with entry into service scheduled for around 2035. BAE Systems is a leading industrial partner, working with Leonardo and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and the partners established a joint venture named EDGEWING to act as prime contractor for design, development and manufacturing. A central driver behind Canada's decision is an effort to reduce its long-standing reliance on American fighter jet procurement.
