UK-Japan-Italy Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) News & Technical Analysis

[Seragina]

Seems Canada wants to move past just being an Observer. This little snippet isn't really news anywhere, just a line mixed in other stories.

Perhaps for subsequent blocks/mods where they could take part but unlikely for initial production lots.

This is politics, but I'm only observing context rather than advocating a position or saying any political development is good or bad, so I hope that's allowable in this thread.

Japan has been mentioned too.

Historically, other than WWII had never had interest or participated in the pacific or conflict like Vietnam. Since the Korean War immediately followed WWII and was under a UN mandate I consider this case convenient happenstance.
Up until recently Canada basically only traded with the US and or NA. Again as good as zero interest beyond other than NATO commitment.
https://blog.tradewheel.com/canadas-major-imports-and-exports-by-country
Right now trade with asia/pacific is 113-120B; 130.8B with the EU, and 390B with US or ~1:~1:~3 or ~40% non-US
The pacific makes out 20% with Japan 20% of that or ~4% total. Japan like South Korea or Taiwain is more risk than anywhere near worth it. I don't see any construct they would join other than intelligence sharing.

 

[eagle]

6 is a fairly safe bet, possibly 8 to 10 if the Twin Missile Carriers for SRAAMs can take APKWS pods. And that configuration could still take three tanks and four Meteors.

The missile rails can only carry rail launched AAMs.
The outermost stations are SRAM only.
This leaves potentially 6 stations for rocket pods, 4 if carrying 2 tanks.
The centre station is needed for the targeting pod.
If the twin bomb racks were a thing, EF could carry 8 or 12 (without tanks) rocket pods.