Canada

I keep advocating for GCAP (Global Combat Air Program), a partnership between Japan, UK and Italy to develop a 6th generation fighter. We can't pull off an Avro Arrow 2: 2Fast2Arrow any more, our domestic aviation industry has atrophied too much. Even if it hadn't, it's just getting too complex.

Joining our more reliable allies, even as a junior partner we can reinvigorate our domestic aerospace industry and get a 6th gen fighter out the back end.

There is a problem, GCAP isn't scheduled to deliver until 2035, so we still need a stopgap. F35 is the most capable, but also most expensive. It's also in progress. I like Gripen personally, but it would mean starting again from scratch pretty much. Granted with a more basic craft, so maybe even faster to upgrade as a stopgap? Past my pay grade, but GCAP seems an obvious way to signal a long term commitment, with very attractive benefits along the path ^(the real 6th generation fighter was the domestic aerospace industry we reinvigorated along the way). Plus it draws us together with more reliable allies.

There is an alternative to GCAP, FCAS (Future Combat Air System), a partnership between France, Germany, and Spain. It seems less urgent, with a scheduled delivery of 2040. Plus it's all EU+NATO, so something about eggs and baskets… although I trust the EU and other NATO countries more than the US right now.