David McGuinty said in Tokyo that Canada wants to learn more about the Global Combat Air Programme, the first public sign from a senior Canadian official of Ottawa’s interest.
GCAP — led by Japan, Italy and the UK — would give Canada a path in as an observer first, opening access to programme information and possible later entry as a development partner.
The interest comes as Canada weighs splitting its next fighter purchase between the F-35 and Saab’s Gripen amid tensions with the United States.
That wider procurement shift already includes looking beyond US suppliers for other systems, with Germany’s TKMS and South Korea’s Hanwha competing to provide diesel-electric submarines.