OTTAWA — Canada has become the first country to gain observer status in a next-generation fighter jet program run by the U.K., Japan and Italy.
That means Ottawa gains access to internal information about the Global Combat Air Program as the sixth-generation fighter is under development.
The countries’ defence ministers announced the news in London today.
The three countries launched the program to replace the Eurofighter Typhoons and Japan’s F-2 jets by 2035.
Experts say it’s still very early days and it’s not clear whether Canada has a viable path to participating in the program in a way that gets domestic industry involved.
The federal government has yet to sort out what it’s doing with its order for a full fleet of fifth-generation F-35 fighter jets — that contract has been under review amid the ongoing trade war with the United States.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published July 21, 2026.
Kyle Duggan, The Canadian Press
