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Canada first country to join European next-gen jet fighter program as an observer

  • Kyle Duggan

  • Canadian Press

  • July 21, 2026

A 1/10 model of a next-generation combat jet is on display at a booth for the Global Combat Air Program at the Japan International Aerospace Exhibition in Tokyo on Oct. 16, 2024. (AP Photo/Mari Yamaguchi)

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.