Canada has reached a ​deal to become an observer to an advanced fighter jet ‌program being pursued by Japan, Britain and Italy, a senior Canadian-based source with direct knowledge of the matter said on Wednesday.

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Canadian defense officials are due to make a ​formal announcement on Tuesday of next week at the ⁠Farnborough International Airshow in Britain, said the source, who requested anonymity ​given the sensitivity of the matter.

The three countries launched the Global ​Combat Air Programme (GCAP) in 2022 to field a next-generation stealth fighter by 2035, led by Britain's BAE Systems, Japan's Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and Italy's Leonardo.

Any Canadian ​involvement would mark GCAP's first expansion beyond its three founding ​members.

Although observer status is an initial step that does not entail any financial ‌commitments, ⁠Canada could deepen its cooperation later, depending on how the project turns out.

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[The move] represents another step in Canada's efforts to diversify its defense spending ​away from the United States and forge closer ​European ties.

Last ⁠December, Ottawa said it would join the European Union's Security Action for Europe initiative, which will give Canadian defense companies expanded access to ⁠the European ​market.

GCAP is one of two major ​Western sixth-generation fighter projects, alongside the U.S. Air Force's Next Generation Air Dominance program.

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