The United Kingdom strengthens its GCAP air program in response to the growing military alliance between Russia and China (X @GlobalCombatAir)
British experts have warned that the United Kingdom needs to maintain full funding and strategic focus on its Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) to address the increasing risks posed by military cooperation between Russia and China.
During a hearing in the House of Lords, Dr. Sophy Antrobus from King’s College London stated that abandoning the joint development of fighter jets would leave the country at a disadvantage within NATO, with no viable alternatives to support its next-generation air force.
Analyst Justin Bronk from the Royal United Services Institute described the coming decade as a “critical period of risk,” amidst Russian military expansion and the need for European countries to reduce their dependence on the United States in potential conflicts. He estimated that GCAP will cost between $104 and $130 billion by 2030, an investment he said would strengthen both the UK’s security and economy, with a significant return for the national industry.
Bronk also highlighted that Japan should lead the technological advancements of the project, given its proximity to China, whose air force is now far superior to Russia’s. He warned that in the coming decades, NATO allies could face Russian forces equipped with Chinese weapons and sensors, and that a conflict involving one of these countries could easily trigger action from the other. For him, GCAP and European rearmament need to be treated as strategic priorities to ensure deterrence against these combined threats.
Source: UK Defence Journal | Photo: X @GlobalCombatAir | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
