Canadian defence minister says he discussed GCAP fighter with Japanese counterpart

Canadian Defence Minister David McGuinty said he discussed Japan’s Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) fighter jet initiative with his Japanese counterpart after meeting Shinjiro Koizumi in Tokyo on June 24. McGuinty said the programme is a “promising initiative” and that he would take the information back to Canada’s team to review it. GCAP, launched by Japan, Britain and Italy in 2022, targets a next-generation stealth fighter by 2035 and is led by BAE Systems, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and Leonardo. Canada is not a founding member, so any role would require approval by the three partners. The move comes as GCAP draws interest from potential new backers, while a rival European sixth-generation effort, FCAS, has collapsed.