Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) UK-Japan-Italy

[Ares]

I also hope that the unveiling of China's new 6th generation aircraft will encourage more neighbouring countries to join GCAP and may it lead to its early completion. For Japan, year 2035 now seems dangerously late in timetable.

 

[Broken]

I also hope that the unveiling of China's new 6th generation aircraft will encourage more neighbouring countries to join GCAP and may it lead to its early completion. For Japan, year 2035 now seems dangerously late in timetable.

It's interesting how this might affect things. Japan has already been very keen to meet the IOC deadline and that has affected partnerships. On the one hand it now makes meeting the deadline even more desperate. On the other hand the need to keep up with China technologically and possible increasing interest from partners might mean extra funding is needed.

Relatedly there were also questions early on about high-tech vs exportability, I think Justin Bronk mentioned this in a select committee meeting. There was also a seperate comment at an airshow IIRC that the Japanese had been more cautious from an engineering perspective than the other partners. I wonder if this will change the calculation.

At least it seems likely that there won't be any problems getting Japan to throw money at the project.


Also, re: beyond the Asia-Pacific. While China has so far been reluctant to sell top end aircraft, eventually derivatives may be sold to China's allies. So everyone will need to pay attention.

 

[red admiral]

Well, now everyone in the Asia-Pacific is shitting their pants, good news for GCAP? Emphasises the wisdom of joining up with Japan and thus needing to be seen as competitive with China.

But do UK and Italy need to be competitive with China? Or does this just force a lot more cost and risk into the programme?

 

[Broken]

But do UK and Italy need to be competitive with China? Or does this just force a lot more cost and risk into the programme?

It's a common question, but I'm not sure it's actually a killer point anymore. As I mentioned above, simply not being next to China may not prevent counties facing Chinese-developed planes in future.

 

[red admiral]

It's a common question, but I'm not sure it's actually a killer point anymore. As I mentioned above, simply not being next to China may not prevent counties facing Chinese-developed planes in future.

Yeah, but those are more likely to be JF-17s or J-35s if any at all? Plenty of countries buy combat aircraft that aren't aiming for the top worldwide position.