Whereas the federal authorities has but to kind out what it’s doing with its order for a full fleet of fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets, it’s already wanting to the subsequent huge factor.
Ottawa is broadly anticipated to announce Tuesday it’ll be part of a sixth-generation fighter jet program run by the U.Ok., Japan and Italy — not as a participant however as an observer with entry to inside info.
Defence Minister David McGuinty, presently within the U.Ok. for a serious worldwide air present, has stated the federal government is excited by studying extra in regards to the World Fight Air Program.
The three international locations launched the World Fight Air Program to exchange Japan’s F-2 jets and the Eurofighter Typhoons utilized by the U.Ok. and Italy.
It’s nonetheless very early days and it’s not clear but whether or not Canada has a viable path to taking part within the fighter jet program in a method that will get home business concerned.
“It’s nonetheless very conceptual,” stated Philippe Lagassé, a professor on the Norman Paterson College of Worldwide Affairs.
“Analysis has begun on it. The viability shouldn’t be but clear. The significance of it’s not but clear. You’ll have a whole lot of critics who will argue we must be abandoning conventional fighters altogether. There’s a whole lot of issues to iron out and a few uncertainty … however that is regular for a mission like this.”
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David Perry, president of the Canadian World Affairs Institute, stated there are a whole lot of unanswered questions on how Canada might become involved and whether or not there’s an entry price.
However gaining observer standing might assist crystallize the federal authorities’s considering on future involvement within the program, he stated.
“I believe it is smart for us, at a minimal, to go kick the tires after which see whether or not or not if it seems to be prefer it’s a superb initiative to be part of extra significantly,” he stated.
Boeing within the U.S. is manufacturing the F-47, a next-generation twin-engined fighter to exchange the U.S. air power’s F-22 Raptor. These have an estimated price of about US$300 million per plane — far more costly than the F-35s.
Daniel Norton, senior administration programs analyst on the RAND Company suppose tank, stated the U.S. won’t need to export the expertise and it might be “cost-prohibitive for smaller air forces just like the RCAF.”
The World Fight Air Program, he stated, “could also be inexpensive and provide a higher likelihood for Canadian corporations to turn into concerned in improvement and manufacturing.”
“On the very least, the specter of participation might present some leverage in negotiations with different contractors,” he added.
Canada’s plan to buy a fleet of fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets has been underneath a federal assessment for greater than a yr.
Prime Minister Mark Carney put the total order of 88 jets underneath assessment in March 2025 in response to the continued commerce warfare began by U.S. President Donald Trump.
Richard Shimooka, a senior fellow on the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, stated the World Fight Air Program has suffered inside tensions and it’s not clear the place the program will likely be a number of years down the highway.
The U.Ok. had dragged its heels for practically a yr on committing to financing, whereas Japan has pushed for a quicker tempo.
Shimooka pointed on the market’s another choice for Canada: becoming a member of the U.S. navy’s sixth-generation mission, the F/A-XX.
Canada might nonetheless search to be part of that after the political dynamics change between Ottawa and Washington, he stated.
“Canadian industries are very successfully aligned with U.S. business,” he stated.
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