Italy pitches Germany observer status in GCAP fighter jet program

What happened: Italy formally proposed giving Germany observer status in the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP), which it is developing with the United Kingdom and Japan, rejecting a report that it opposed Berlin joining the group. Key numbers: GCAP aims to put a sixth-generation stealth fighter jet into service by the mid-2030s. Why it matters: Germany scrapped the Future Combat Air System project with France earlier this year, and its potential entry into GCAP follows Italy's formal proposal of observer status.

Italy formally proposed giving Germany observer status in the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP), which it is developing with the United Kingdom and Japan, rejecting a report that it opposed Berlin joining the group.

Germany scrapped the Future Combat Air System project with France earlier this year, and its potential entry into GCAP follows Italy's formal proposal of observer status.