Canada is set to formally join the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) as an observer on July 21, according to officials with knowledge of the agreement, gaining access to classified sixth-generation fighter data while its existing order for 88 American-made F-35s remains stalled in a government review.
Canada joins GCAP sixth-gen stealth fighter program as observer ahead of 2035 service entry pic.twitter.com/6ANOcnm4K0
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British Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis is expected to host his Japanese and Italian counterparts, Shinjirō Koizumi and Guido Crosetto, alongside Canadian Defence Minister David McGuinty at the U.K. Ministry of Defence in London to formalize the arrangement, officials told Politico.
As an observer, Ottawa will not contribute funding or participate in program contracts. It will, however, access sensitive project information covering operational concepts and individual technical parameters, according to officials cited by Politico and the Nikkei.
Canada’s entry into GCAP comes as its fighter fleet replacement remains unresolved. Prime Minister Mark Carney opened a review of the country’s C$19 billion contract to purchase 88 Lockheed Martin F-35As in March 2025, following rising trade tensions with Washington. More than 16 months later, that review remains open.
McGuinty told a Senate defence committee in April 2026 that non-U.S. manufacturers remain under consideration, and has declined to rule out a mixed fleet that could include Sweden’s Saab Gripen.
GCAP, which targets a service entry date of 2035, is designed to replace the Eurofighter Typhoon operated by the U.K. and Italy and Japan’s Mitsubishi F-2. The three founding nations signed a £4.6 billion contract with industrial lead Edgewing in early July, covering development activity through December 2027, as reported by SOFX.
Canada’s bid also follows expressions of interest from Australia and Singapore, making Ottawa the first nation outside GCAP’s founding trio to formally join the program in any capacity.
