SOURCE: RAUNAK KUNDE / NEWS BEAT / IDRW.ORG
India has expressed keen interest in joining the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a trilateral initiative by Japan, the United Kingdom, and Italy to develop a next-generation fighter jet, according to a report by Sankei.com, operated by Japan-based Sankei Digital Inc. The ambitious project, agreed upon in December 2022, aims to deploy a cutting-edge stealth fighter by 2035. Multiple Japanese and Indian diplomatic sources have confirmed that India has formally approached the Japanese government to explore participation, signaling a potential expansion of the program. However, Japan remains wary, citing concerns over technology leakage due to India’s longstanding defense ties with Russia.
The GCAP represents a strategic collaboration to replace aging fleets—Japan’s Mitsubishi F-2, Britain’s Tempest, and Italy’s future requirements—with a sixth-generation fighter featuring advanced stealth, AI integration, and networked warfare capabilities. The program’s high development costs, estimated in the tens of billions of dollars, have prompted the trio to consider broadening partnerships. India’s inclusion could ease the financial burden by expanding the market and leveraging its growing defense industry. Yet, the Japanese government is grappling with a dilemma: while India’s participation could enhance deterrence against a shared regional threat—China—it also raises security risks.
Japan’s caution stems from India’s historical reliance on Russia, a key supplier of military hardware, including the Su-30 MKI fighters and S-400 air defense systems. A senior official from Japan’s Defense Ministry voiced skepticism, warning, “This will only lead to our technology being stolen.” The fear is that sensitive GCAP technologies could inadvertently flow to Russia, a concern amplified by the program’s reliance on classified innovations in stealth, avionics, and propulsion systems. With more countries involved, the risk of delays and breaches in information security also grows, potentially jeopardizing the 2035 deployment timeline.
Despite these reservations, India’s potential role in GCAP could deepen defense ties with Japan, a relationship both nations have nurtured in response to China’s assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific. India’s participation would align with its own ambitions to modernize its air force, currently strained by a shrinking squadron strength and delays in its indigenous Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA) program. Joining GCAP could provide India with access to cutting-edge technology, complementing its domestic efforts while strengthening strategic partnerships with Japan, the UK, and Italy.
The idea of India’s involvement is not new. According to earlier reports by the Indian Defence Research Wing (idrw.org), both the UK and Italy were enthusiastic about India joining even before Japan formally entered the program. Idrw.org was the first to report that the UK officially briefed India on GCAP, with Italy extending a similar invitation. These overtures reflect confidence in India’s growing aerospace capabilities and its strategic weight as a counterbalance to China. However, Japan’s hesitance introduces a new layer of complexity to the negotiations.
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