On July 21, Canada became the first observer nation in the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), the UK, Italy and Japan’s effort to develop a sixth-generation stealth combat aircraft and an integrated networked air combat system. In this episode of the Expert Series, former RCAF commander LGen Yvan Blondin and former RCAF deputy commander MGen Colin Keiver discuss what Canada’s entry into the programme could mean for its future defence capabilities, industrial base, and international partnerships. They examine the significance of joining the programme, opportunities for Canadian industry, as well as the operational implications of sixth-generation air power, and what Canada would need to do to move from observer status to a more substantive role in GCAP.
