Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto stated on Tuesday that more countries could join the Global Combat Air Program involving Italy, Britain and Japan to share costs on a next-generation fighter jet.
The Global Combat Air Program aims to develop a next-generation fighter jet through a joint venture of Britain's BAE Systems, Italy's Leonardo and Japan's Aircraft Industrial Enhancement, which is backed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. Partners plan to complete the aircraft by 2035.
Crosetto told reporters in Rome that Canada appears most interested as an observer at present. He added that Germany, Saudi Arabia or other nations would also be welcome.
"If Germany or other countries, or Saudi Arabia, were to come in, we would be completely willing, because the more there are, the greater the chances of creating something and bringing down costs," Crosetto said.
The comments follow the collapse earlier this month of a separate Franco-German fighter project. The chief executive of Leonardo has noted that Berlin would bring valuable industrial expertise to GCAP.
