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MILITARY AIRCRAFT 6TH GENERATION FIGHTERS PPR GLOBAL: US Stunned by UK's Brilliant Offer to Canada: Canada Could Replace F-35 Jet Deal with GCAP Fighters PLAY YOUTUBE VIDEO Original article: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zfRy4wqFmwM
US Stunned by UK's Brilliant Offer to Canada: Canada Could Replace F-35 Jet Deal with GCAP Fighters PPR GLOBAL 764K subscribers Jun 25, 2025 #GCAP #TempestFighter #SixthGenJet #GCAP #TempestFighter #SixthGenJet #NGAD #F35Crisis Fracturing Ties Over the F-35 Canada’s $13B F-35 program under scrutiny as tariffs strain U.S.–Canada relations. Prime Minister Mark Carney’s tough stance on U.S. pressure and the political backlash at home. GCAP: A Sixth-Gen Alternative The UK’s invitation for Canada to join the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP). Potential synergy with partner nations UK, Japan, Italy—and how Canada might fit into the schedule. Why Ottawa Might Break with Washington Tariffs on steel, aluminum, autos: Trump’s policies pushing Canada to reconsider defense deals. Possible cancellation or partial fulfillment of the F-35 contract—and the associated fallout. GCAP vs. F-35: Weighing Costs & Benefits Operational benefits of F-35 alignment (e.g., NORAD) vs. advanced next-gen GCAP prospects. Production timelines, strategic advantages, and industrial cooperation with the UK. Implications for Western Defense Broader NATO and Five Eyes context: how Canada’s choice could reshape alliances. Other suitors (Australia, Sweden, Saudi Arabia) for GCAP and global fighter markets. How this content was made Auto-dubbed Audio tracks for some languages were automatically generated. Learn more Peter Burgess COMMENTARY Peter Burgess Transcript 0:06 miles we have alternatives to the F-35 uh so we will explore those the UK Italy and Japan have announced that they will jointly develop a next generation fighter jet by 2035 and if the United States no longer wants to lead Canada will the long-standing strategic partnership in North America is now undergoing a deep shakeup with the return of Donald Trump to the presidency Canada's hardening trade policies have begun to distance itself from the United States not only economically but also militarily tariffs on steel and aluminum have clogged Canada's export pipeline while tensions in dairy lumber and other sensitive trade areas have further strained relations between the two countries but this time it's not just 1:04 about trade defense cooperation between Washington and Ottawa is also seriously fracturing all eyes are on the F-35 one of the world's most advanced fighter jets canada is preparing to suspend a major $13 billion deal with the United States the highcost political insecurity and Trump's exclusionary attitude have pushed Ottawa to seek a new route in this area this is where the United Kingdom comes in london has sent Canada an open invitation to join the Global Combat Air Program a project to develop sixth generation fighter jets this is not only a new defense partnership but also a serious challenge to the US position as a global arms supplier canada's move away from Washington and closer to London could represent a major rupture not only in relations between the two countries but also in the western defense architecture 2:04 but is Ottawa really changing course or is this just a temporary reaction to the Trump era for answers to these critical questions and more our video begins but first please don't forget to subscribe to our channel turn on notifications and give us a like to stay up to date with our content the Canadian Defense Ministry was planning to buy 88 F-35 Lightning 2 fighter jets from the United States but the fate of this deal is now in doubt trump's refusal to back down on his tariff policies is crippling the F-35 project canadian officials say 'Our country's strategic interests will never be shaped by unilateral pressure and threats,' Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney said in an official statement these words were interpreted as a very harsh signal for those wondering about the future of the F-35 project although there was no direct reaction from the Washington administration after Carney's statement some American sources started 3:07 to circulate rumors that different sanctions may be on the agenda if Canada does not step back prime Minister Carney is known for his meticulous analysis of economic data as a former central bank governor although the cost of shelving a major defense project like the F-35 would be high there are signs that Carney is determined enough to take the risk defense Minister Bill Blair said Ottawa is considering possible alternatives to Loheed Martin's 13.2 billion purchase of the fifth generation jet fighter blair's comments suggest that the first batch of F-35s could be accepted but the rest of the fleet could be made up of European aircraft such as the Swedishbuilt Saab Gripen while Canada is considering alternatives the United Kingdom is taking a critical step 4:01 the United Kingdom has indicated that it is open to accepting Canada into the sixth generation global combat air program the Global Combat Air Program is a trilateral partnership between the United Kingdom Japan and Italy to design manufacture and deliver the next generation of combat aircraft the possibility of Canada joining the GCAP was raised by British Liberal Democrat MP David Chadwick of Breen Radner and CWM Tee in a written parliamentary inquiry on March 25th 2025 chadwick asked whether the UK Ministry of Defense was considering inviting Canada to join the GCAP defense Minister Maria Eagle responded that while Canada is not an official participant the United Kingdom Japan and Italy are open to cooperation with additional countries provided that such cooperation does not delay the program 5:01 schedule and contributes to the development of future military capabilities this suggests a potential avenue for Canada's participation analysts have noted that Canada could be a suitable candidate due to its membership in the Five Eyes Intelligence Alliance and strong defense ties with the United Kingdom moreover Canada's recent acquisition of the F-35A align its fleet with those of GCAP countries that operate or plan to operate the same aircraft canada is eager to develop a sixth generation multi-roll fighter by 2035 recent statements by defense officials and policymakers suggest that talks are beginning to take shape albeit at a preliminary stage this offers Canada a chance to diversify its defense partnerships and potentially reduce its dependence on the United States the F-35s already ordered by Canada will offer a degree of interoperability with 6:04 GCAP partners further strengthening the case for participation the debate in Canada goes beyond the choice of aircraft there is significant public opposition to the overall cost and environmental impact of procuring new fighter jets the enormous cost of the F-35 program raises concerns that these funds could be better allocated to domestic priorities such as healthcare affordable housing or climate change initiatives some argue that Canada's current fleet with its focus on international cooperation adequately meets its defense needs the debate highlights the broader question of Canada's role in global defense and the balance between national security and responsible resource allocation the coming months will be critical in determining Canada's fighter jet future the government's review of the F-35 purchase along with ongoing discussions about GCAP participation will shape 7:06 Canada's defense strategy for years to come this decision will have important implications not only for Canada's military capabilities but also for its geopolitical alignment and relations with key allies how could choosing GCAP affect Canada's relationship with the United States choosing the GCF over the F-35 could potentially affect Canada's relationship with the United States as the F-35 is a key component of US military technology and interoperability the Lockheed Martin F-35 is a multi-roll stealth fighter aircraft that has already been adopted by several NATO countries Israel Australia and the United States Air Force it is generally considered state-of-the-art in terms of its flight and combat capabilities Mach 1.6 speed advanced sensors and long 8:02 range and electronic warfare capabilities canada participated in the development of the aircraft from the beginning starting in 1997 the United States solicited investments from prospective buyers who invested about $40 billion in the estimated $4 trill75 billion development cost canada's contribution was $160 million this allowed Canadian firms to bid on and purchase contracts for parts and components generating $1.3 billion between 1997 and 2021 steven Harper's government decided to buy the F-35 without receiving bids from other aircraft companies but the Justin Trudeau Liberal government elected in 2015 effectively cancelled the purchase reopening the search for a fighter jet to replace the RCAF's aging CF-18s 9:03 but the F-35 remained a possible option and the Trudeau government belatedly reached a deal in 2022 announcing the purchase of 88 F-35s for $19 billion over the life of the aircraft maintenance and operating costs which are difficult to estimate precisely will be tens of billions of dollars higher the RCAF is expected to have a fleet in 2029 and all aircraft in its possession by 2032 to 34 the first 16 F-35s already paid for are expected to arrive in 2026 the purchase and acquisition of F-35s was proceeding smoothly until US President Donald Trump's administration launched tariff and annexation threats against Canada in January opposition began to build and Carney's instructions to consider other fighter jet options threw things into doubt 10:04 cancelelling the rest of the F-35 contract would likely satisfy many Canadians outraged by Trump's threats from south of the border ending the contract would have a significant financial cost canada has been here before in 1993 when Jean Cretian's government stopped the purchase of Cadillac Eh101 helicopters and had to pay a $500 million cancellation fee for some reason the Trump administration would be furious if Canada broke its contract and this would certainly increase its economic attacks and verbal threats against us canada is also a participant with the United States in NORAD and the US Air Force's F-22s and F-35s based in Alaska along with the RCAF's F-35s are designed to provide North America's air defense against Russia and China the F-35 can interact seamlessly with NORAD 11:05 systems this is a capability that no other fighter is likely to have the cancellation of the F-35 contract would enrage Washington which sees Canada as a freeloader in defense meanwhile flying two types of fighters would be more expensive to maintain and would further strain the RCAF which already lack sufficient numbers of qualified pilots specialized technicians flight instructors and ground crews buying the F-35 would help Canada get 2% closer to its NATO spending commitment and show that Canada is serious about defense the purchase could even help persuade Trump on tariffs it would certainly allay US concerns about the supposedly enormous trade deficit with Canada indeed agreeing to make the F35 purchase could be a useful trade-off that could save lumber aluminum or steel exports very 12:05 simply killing the F35 contract carries significant risks and little return but this choice also allows for potentially stronger military ties with the European countries involved in the GCAP project in addition to Canada Australia is also showing renewed interest in joining the global combat air program aircraft have been a fundamental part of military power since the midentth century from giant airships and zeppelins to MIG 15 and Americanmade F86 Saberjet fighter jets and British supermine Spitfires the vast skies have seen many battles and each era marks the birth of a new legend now the war in the air is being fought with technology and intelligence as long as it is accessible reliable and costeffective and the sixth generation legends are emerging one by one from the 13:00 shadows cost procurement and political difficulties especially in the F-35 lightning the sue program are encouraging European countries to develop their own sixth generation fighter moreover the confidence shaken by the F-35 also undermines the possible place of the sixth generation F-47 NGA in Europe now comes a very strong competitor to the F-35s and even the F-47 NGAD's reign in Europe and that is GCAP developed under the name Global Combat Air Program the new project lays the foundations of the future fighter jet in partnership with the United Kingdom Italy and Japan while France Germany and Spain are pursuing a similar goal with the future combat air system project so how can this beast armed with Japanese technology swords British experience and Italian engineering power take down the F-47 NGA and the F-35 14:02 let's start with the sixth generation duel for a long time the United States NGAD next generation air dominance project was the one that most often came to mind when sixth generation fighter jet was mentioned in the defense and aviation world this ambitious initiative which aims to replace the F-22 Raptor was seen as the backbone of the US strategy to maintain global air dominance while arousing curiosity due to the secrecy surrounding its designs recently however a new actor has emerged on the scene that could change the balance in the Pacific as well as the transatlantic front gcap Global Combat Air Program this program a partnership between Britain Italy and Japan identifies a sixth generation fighter jet currently codenamed Tempest to be developed on the basis of Europe's aviation experience Japan's advanced technology capabilities and Italy's significant engineering materials 15:04 expertise this aircraft project which will emerge after the GCAP typhoons draws attention with its potential to challenge the US leadership not only in Europe but also on a global scale the fact that three countries with different origins Britain Italy and Japan come together under the same roof shares both the technological and financial burden while the UK has expertise in engine and air platform infrastructure with giants such as Rolls-Royce Italy steps in with materials and engineering skills and Japan offers a leading position in advanced sensor technology and artificial intelligence algorithms this combination also means that GCAP can develop a flexible export policy with the advantage of a multinational production model ng Aad on the other hand is likely to be shaped by a secretive and closed US consortium approach with limited openness even to 16:04 allies therefore a European country or Canada will face questions such as what procedures will we go through if we want to buy NGA how will the US Congress approve it one of GCAP's biggest trump cards is precisely the flexibility in these approval mechanisms in reality NGA will be the successor to the F-22 Raptor and is the most secretive project the US is developing to maintain global air superiority it will feature everything from laser weapons to adaptive engines from unmanned wingman concepts to advanced stealth technologies however the US has never sold the F-22 to any country although it opened the F-35 to allies it kept the most advanced technology level to itself the same scenario is likely to play out for ENGAD it is part of Europe's independent defense policy to build its own ecosystem instead of waiting for a US approved aircraft gcap is not just an 17:03 agreement between Britain and Italy and Japan other countries could be involved in this program there is talk of interest from Saudi Arabia in the Middle East South Korea or Australia in Asia this could both ease the financing burden of the project and increase its production capacity the F-35 project was initially developed with multiple partnerships now GCAP aims to achieve a similar success with its own sixth generation aircraft concept still European countries may not feel the need to engage in a NGA or GCAP dilemma moreover within the European Union there has always been the idea of let's support our own industry france and Germany are following a similar path with the FTAS project although GCAP is a direct competitor to FCAS both projects aim to break free from US dependence this makes it unlikely that the F-47 NGA 18:01 will find widespread sales in Europe because even if the US opens its sixth generation secret to Europe the Europeans already have their own plans for the sixth generation on the table let's continue with the F-35 the F-35 Lightning the Sea is a fifth generation fighter jet developed by a consortium led by the US which stands out with its stealth network ccentric warfare and multi-roll features during the Trump administration the F-35 project has been on the agenda both in the US and internationally trump has turned the F-35 program into a political trump card by demanding that NATO allies pay more for defense moreover there were widespread reports of a kill switch installed on the F-35s this meant that Washington could effectively control the aircraft purchased and operated by recipient countries as it wished in Europe some countries felt that the F-35 19:01 was overshadowing their national industries that technical secrets remained under US control and that they had become the dominant supplier because of the rising cost in particular countries with strong aeronautical traditions such as France and Germany began to ask why not build our own advanced aircraft smaller countries were wary of the F-35 due to logistical challenges and maintenance costs in this respect the F-35 crisis is not just a technical or economic issue but also a geopolitical one europe wants to reduce its dependence on the United States strengthen its own defense industry and have a say in sixth generation aircraft technology to this end projects such as the Global Combat Air Program and the Future Combat Air System are gaining momentum if the sixth generation programs are successful the weight of the F-35 may decrease after 2030 since the lifespan of aircraft is 30 40 years 20:02 the F-35 could remain in service until the60s however after 2030 the transition to systems such as GCP or FCAS could accelerate much more this new wave of technology will call into question the modernization costs of the F-35 and the uncertain future of the F-47 NGA what is the difference between the fifth and sixth generation fifth generation aircraft are characterized by stealth- stealth features advanced sensor fusion network ccentric data connectivity and supersonic capabilities the sixth generation aims to take these qualities even further offering AI powered cockpit management unmanned or optional manned mode of operation advanced drone swarm integration hypersonic weapons integration and more advanced stealth and radar jamming furthermore the sixth generation concept often involves the flying platform not operating alone but 21:05 in teams with cooperating drones or loyal wingman structures why sixth generation now the most important reason is the rapid pace of technological leaps electronic warfare artificial intelligence sensors and data processing capabilities have advanced tremendously in the last 10 years in addition rival countries like China and Russia are making similar moves the West is preparing for the sixth generation fearing that its fifth generation aircraft will not remain superior long enough in this context it is worth taking a closer look at the birth of the global combat air program the GCAP Alliance was formed in 2022 by the United Kingdom Japan and Italy to pull their resources and expertise to create a state-of-the-art sixth generation aircraft the tripartite organization had previously announced that the aircraft would make its first flight in 2027 and 22:03 be ready to enter service in 2035 this was an ambitious time frame the planned combat air system will primarily consist of fighter jets and unmanned add-ons these will include drones advanced sensors and network data systems powered by cloud computing and artificial intelligence the crude sixth generation fighter jet will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology such as advanced radar and possibly high power microwave capabilities it will be designed for long range combat in July last year at the Farnboroough International Air Show the three GCAP partner countries unveiled a new concept model of their future fighter aircraft the specific concept model had a wider wingspan than previously introduced designs to improve the aerodynamics of future fighter aircraft all three members ratified the GCAP agreement officially establishing the GCAP governmental international organization GIO this organization is tasked with 23:03 overseeing the development of the next generation fighter setting capability requirements and managing the industrial framework gigo will be based in the UK and will be chaired by a Japanese official italy is expected to provide the first leader of the company associated with Gigo this leader will include Leonardo of Italy Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of Japan and BAE Systems plc of the United Kingdom according to the GCAP partners the aircraft will be among the world's most advanced,worked versatile and interoperable combat aircraft thanks to its softwaredriven interactive cockpit integrated sensor array intelligent weapon system and next generation radar the next generation fighter will provide more data and improve situational awareness the program aims to replace the Euro Fighter Typhoon used by the Italian Air Force and Royal Air Force and the Mitsubishi 24:01 F2 used by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force the trinational global combat air platform program aims for a production order of 350 units by 2035 with the United Kingdom retiring 30 of its older Trunch 1 Euro fighters by 2027 and no decision yet taken on additional orders London's requirement could be around 107 aircraft or the same number of later version Typhoons operated by the RAF italy has around 93 Euro fighters in service and will order 24 of the Trunch 3 models in 2024 to replace the older aircraft expected to leave service japan on the other hand has about 90 Mitsubishi F2 fighters which are scheduled to be included in the GCAP in 2035 combining the three existing fleets of Italian and British Euro fighters and the planned replacements 25:00 there is a minimum requirement to replace around 290 fourth generation fighters with the GCAP platform it is not known where the additional 60 GCAP aircraft will be distributed it could be the case that each partner country acquires slightly more GCAP fighters to replace its national fourth generation aircraft reaching about 110 120 airframes each moreover the GCAP group aims to gain an export oriented first mover advantage in the sixth generation fighter market this may have become easier given that Trump has set terms and conditions for exports gcip is an effort by the European defense industry to break away from US dominance to some extent the United Kingdom and Italy although still F-35 customers are seeking economic and technological gains by co-building the next generation japan's participation gives the project a global dimension the expensive 26:00 maintenance software dependency and spare parts issues with the F-35 could make the GCAP more attractive of course financing is a big challenge developing a sixth generation aircraft would cost tens of billions of dollars it is unclear how the project will be divided among countries and which companies will get how much are there other countries interested in GAP canada is very interested in this program the Canadian Ministry of Defense was planning to buy 88 F-35 Lightning 2 fighter jets from the United States but the fate of this deal is now in doubt trump's failure to backtrack on his tariff policies is crippling the F-35 project canadian officials say 'Our country's strategic interests will never be shaped by unilateral pressure and threats.' The Canadian Prime Minister said in an official statement 'These words were interpreted as a very harsh signal for those wondering about the future of the F-35 project although there was no direct reaction from the Washington 27:04 administration after these statements some American sources started to circulate rumors that different sanctions may be on the agenda if Canada does not step back the prime minister is known for his meticulous analysis of economic data as a former central bank governor while the cost of shelving a major defense project like the F-35 would be high there are signs that the prime minister is determined enough to take the risk the defense minister said Ottawa is considering possible alternatives to Loheed Martin's $13.2 billion purchase of the fifth generation jet fighter his remarks suggest that the first batch of F-35s could be accepted but the rest of the fleet could be made up of European aircraft such as the Swedish Saab Gripen while Canada is considering alternatives the United Kingdom is taking a critical step the UK has indicated that it is open to accepting Canada into the sixth generation global combat air program the 28:04 possibility of Canada joining the GAP was raised by British Liberal Democrat MP David Chadwick of Brecon Rner and CWM Tawe in a written parliamentary inquiry on March 25th 2025 chadwick asked whether the UK Ministry of Defense was considering inviting Canada to join the GCAP the Minister of Defense replied that while Canada is not an official participant the United Kingdom Japan and Italy are open to cooperation with additional countries provided that such cooperation does not delay the program schedule and contributes to the development of future military capabilities this suggests a potential avenue for Canada's participation analysts have noted that Canada could be a suitable candidate due to its membership in the Five Eyes Intelligence Alliance and strong defense ties with the United Kingdom moreover Canada's recent acquisition of the F-35A 29:06 aligns its fleet with those of GCAP countries that operate or plan to operate the same aircraft canada is keen to develop a sixth generation multi-roll fighter by 2035 on the other hand Sweden and Saudi Arabia have also explored the possibility of joining but both have encountered difficulties sweden initially entered talks on the Tempest program but delayed fighter replacement plans made it difficult to fully commit in the end Sweden decided not to participate in GCAP and instead focused on the Gripen fighter program saudi Arabia has a strong interest in joining the GC app especially as it wants to develop its own defense industry however Japan is cautious about granting Saudi Arabia full access due to export restrictions and concerns over technology security the UK and Italy 30:01 have been more open to Saudi participation but no formal agreement has yet been reached the GC app is structured to allow for potential export opportunities japan has therefore had to revise its strict arms transfer rules to bring them in line with UK and Italian policies the program's industrial partners BAE Leonardo and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Cooier have formed a joint venture to oversee the design production and long-term maintenance of the aircraft with the UK confirming that Canada remains an option for future participation no formal agreement has yet been made any future participation will depend on strategic alignment funding and industrial contributions without disrupting the progress of the GCAP for now the UK Japan and Italy remain core members and are moving forward with a demonstrator aircraft in 2027 and full deployment in 31:02 2035 another sixth generation aircraft effort in Europe is known as FCAST this program involving France's dol aviation Germany's Airbus Defense and Space and Spain's Indra ET aims to be NATO's most advanced air platform it is planned to be commissioned around 2040 the backbone of the program is the next generation fighter a stealthcapable fighter jet that can also be unmanned and technologies such as drone swarms a common data network etc deployed around it since both projects are developing a similar aircraft in the same time frame the question of competition or a possible merger is on the agenda a partnership between GAP and FCAS seems unlikely this is because each group wants to pursue its own design philosophy europe's fragmented defense industry has been criticized as a waste of resources because of this division 32:00 the F-35 crisis motivates both this creates two separate European alternatives within NATO but developing a sixth generation aircraft is not without its challenges considering that hundreds of billions of dollars have already been spent on fifth generation aircraft the R&D costs of sixth generation aircraft could be enormous the F-35 for example cost more than $400 billion to develop gcap or FCAS would require similarly large budgets with some analysts even suggesting $500 billion there are questions as to whether the European economy will be able to allocate these resources collectively and how the financial distribution among the members will work the sixth generation concept requires the integration of artificial intelligence at the level of a flying computer we are talking about a system that can instantly process data from a large number of sensors on the battlefield manage drone swarms support 33:04 the pilot or go on autonomous attack how successful will European countries be in developing such a comprehensive software ecosystem the US has had software problems even with the F-35 therefore data security and code integration are among the biggest challenges the European projects GCIP and FCAS are not closed to external partners gcap already includes Japan korea is developing its own fifth generation project such as the KF21 Borame but may seek international cooperation for the sixth generation middle Eastern countries such as Saudi Arabia could be involved in such a project with a large budget while this would provide additional funding for the project it would complicate the issues of technology sharing and political sensitivities russia is struggling even to bring the Su57 into full production while its official plans for a sixth 34:03 generation aircraft are very uncertain China on the other hand may be conducting closed door R&D on the sixth generation after the J20 europe's advancement of its own sixth generation programs could lead Russia and China to hurry up in a similar direction this would accelerate the global aircraft revolution the large number of different aircraft models within NATO could complicate logistics and joint operations f-35 Euro Fighter Typhoon Rafale Grien Gripen GCAP FCAS The more the variety the more complex the maintenance and spare parts issues become on the other hand maintaining NATO's common data network standard will be critical for the integration of sixth generation aircraft allies must ensure that their aircraft work in concert against a common enemy how will the US view Europe's sixth generation plans 35:01 On the one hand increased European defense capacity is positive for NATO on the other hand the F-35's market share could shrink boeing or Lockheed Martin may want to compete or seek cooperation with new projects in Europe the US government has been saying that European NATO member states should invest more in defense but it could be a mixed result for the US if this investment goes to independent European projects instead of its own industry in the final analysis GCAP Tempest and the US NGA are two different approaches to the sixth generation concept ngad is a purely American classified project that prioritizes the US Air Force gcap on the other hand is a joint British Italian Japan design more multinational with perhaps more flexible export options while the F-35 is already widespread in Europe the GCAP's advantages of timely transition to more advanced technology and proximity to euro domestic 36:05 production could attract many countries canada faces a similar dynamic even with the F-35 decision GAP could offer an alternative to staying in the F-35 block when the need for a additional fleets or next generation comes up in the mid 2030s moreover while it is unclear whether the US will sell the NGA to allies or on what terms the GCAP will stand out as the most accessible option in the sixth generation platform market as a result the GAP is not only a technological aircraft project but also a symbol of Europe's and Japan's search for non US alternatives this has the potential to offer a serious alternative to the American F-35 monopoly limit the influence of the sixth generation NGA in Europe and perhaps reshape the future air power plans of countries like Canada 37:05 therefore GCAP is preparing to make its mark in the world aviation arena as one of the strongest candidates to shake the transatlantic throne the future will show us a very different kind of air combat still no project is without problems while NGAD is shrouded in uncertainty and secrecy with a variety of risks and constraints GCIP and FCAS also carry huge funding requirements political compromise challenges and high technical risk do not forget to share your comments subscribe and like our channel in Australia the Trump administration's imposition of a 25% tariff on steel and aluminum imports has brought uncertainty to the US Australia trade relationship and raised concerns about the durability of long-standing economic agreements in parallel former Prime Minister 38:01 Malcolm Turnbull convened a security policy forum that questioned the credibility of the US Australia alliance in 2025 and recommended that Australia reconsider its strategic alignment with the United States in this context the Royal Australian Air Force has begun assessing future air combat requirements including possible alternatives to the F35A and exploration of next generation air systems and crewless cooperative aircraft at the same time the AUKUS agreement remains a central element of Australia's defense planning canra is committing an initial $500 million to support the US submarine industrial base as part of the purchase of AUS nuclearpowered submarines us Defense Secretary Pete Hegsith acknowledged Australia's financial commitments and reaffirmed the US strategic focus on the 39:01 Indo-Pacific however these developments have not fully allayed concerns in Australia about the coherence of US policy the cumulative effect of these developments has led to a growing interest in both countries to diversify their defense partnerships and reduce dependence on a single foreign supplier australia's engagement with GCAP has therefore become more visible during the 2025 Avalon Australia International Air Show in Jalong Air Marshal Nicholas Hogan head of Air Force capabilities for the Royal Australian Air Force confirmed that representatives from the United Kingdom Italy and Japan gave an informative briefing on GCAP to Australian officials hogan described the session as exploratory noting that Australia had requested further details it was emphasized that it aimed to prepare the RAAF for possible future 40:02 interoperability with GCAP aircraft especially in combined international operations however Hogan stated that the program is still in its early stages that the Australian government has not received any formal options for participation and that it is too early to submit specific proposals for government consideration no purchase decision has yet been made australia currently operates 72 F35A joint strike fighters 24FA 18F Super Hornets and 12E18G Growlers the 2024 integrated investment program outlines plans to maintain and upgrade the Super Hornet and Growler fleets until 2040 with the RAAF managing the gradual obsolescence of its fighter inventory malcolm Davis of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute 41:02 told a panel at Avalon that crude aircraft will remain central to Australia's capability mix as new autonomous combat systems advance air Marshal John Haley head of military strategic plans stressed that decisions on new acquisitions or partnerships in foreign development programs will ultimately depend on government and RAAF input so what is the Global Combat Air Program the GCAP alliance was formed in 2022 by the United Kingdom Japan and Italy to combine their resources and expertise to create a sixth generation aircraft with advanced technology the tripartite organization had previously announced that the aircraft would make its first flight in 2027 and be ready to enter service in 2035 this was an ambitious time frame the planned combat air system will primarily consist of fighter jets and unmanned 42:01 add-ons these will include drones advanced sensors and network data systems powered by cloud computing and artificial intelligence the crude sixth generation fighter aircraft will be equipped with state-of-the-art technology such as advanced radar and possibly high power microwave capabilities it will be designed for long range combat in July last year at the Farnboroough International Air Show the three GCAP partner countries unveiled a new concept model of their future fighter aircraft the specific concept model had a wider wingspan than previously introduced designs to improve the aerodynamics of future fighter aircraft all three members ratified the GCAP agreement officially establishing the GCAP governmental international organization GIGO this organization is tasked with overseeing the development of the next generation fighter setting capability 43:02 requirements and managing the industrial framework jigo will be based in the UK and will be chaired by a Japanese official italy is expected to provide the first leader of the company associated with GIGO this leader will include Leonardo of Italy Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of Japan and BAE Systems PLC of the United Kingdom according to the GCIP partners the aircraft will be among the world's most advanced,worked versatile and interoperable combat aircraft thanks to its software-driven interactive cockpit integrated sensor array intelligent weapon system and next generation radar the next generation fighter will provide more data and improve situational awareness the program aims to replace the Euro Fighter Typhoon used by the Italian Air Force and Royal Air Force and the Mitsubishi F2 used by the Japan Air Self-Defense Force the triational global combat air 44:06 platform program aims for a production order of 350 units by 2035 with the UK retiring 30 of its older Trunch 1 Euro fighters by 2027 and no decision yet taken on additional orders london's requirement could be around 107 aircraft or the same number of later version Typhoons operated by the RAF italy has around 93 Euro fighters in service and will order 24 of the Trunch 3 models in 2024 to replace the older aircraft expected to leave service japan on the other hand has about 90 Mitsubishi F2 fighters which are scheduled to be included in the GCAP in 2035 combining the three existing fleets of Italian and British Euro fighters and the planned replacements there is a minimum requirement to replace around 45:04 290 fourth generation fighters with the GCAP platform it is not known where the additional 60 GCAP aircraft will be distributed it could be the case that each partner country acquires slightly more GCAP fighters to replace its national fourthg generation aircraft reaching about 110 to 120 airframes each moreover the GCAP group aims to gain an exportoriented first mover advantage in the sixth generation fighter market this may have become easier given that Trump has set terms and conditions for exports are there other countries interested in GCAP although Canada is not yet a member it is not the only country showing interest in the project sweden and Saudi Arabia have also explored the possibility of joining but both have encountered difficulties sweden initially entered talks on the Tempest program but delayed fighter 46:05 replacement plans made it difficult to fully commit in the end Sweden decided not to participate in GCAP and instead focused on the Grien fighter program saudi Arabia has a strong interest in joining the GCAP especially as it wants to develop its own defense industry however Japan is cautious about granting Saudi Arabia full access due to export restrictions and concerns over technology security the UK and Italy have been more open to Saudi participation but no formal agreement has yet been reached the GCAP is structured to allow for potential export opportunities japan has therefore had to revise its strict arms transfer rules to bring them in line with UK and Italian policies the program's industrial partners BAE Leonardo and Japan Aircraft Industrial 47:02 Enhancement Co have formed a joint venture to oversee the design production and long-term maintenance of the aircraft with the UK confirming that Canada remains an option for future participation no formal agreement has yet been made any future participation will depend on strategic alignment funding and industrial contributions without disrupting the progress of the GCAP for now the UK Japan and Italy remain core members moving forward with a demonstrator in 2027 and full deployment in 2035 canada and Australia's role in this equation will become clearer in the coming days thank you for watching

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