The Globe and Mail reports in its Wednesday, July 22, edition that Canada has become the first country to gain observer status in a future fighter jet program run by the U.K., Japan and Italy, even as a decision on Ottawa's current order of Lockheed Martin's F-35s remains up in the air. A Canadian Press dispatch to The Globe reports that as an observer nation, Ottawa will gain insider access to information about the developing sixth-generation fighter in the Global Combat Air Program, without committing to purchasing the jets. The four countries' defence ministers announced the news in London on Tuesday. Defence Minister David McGuinty called it an "important milestone." The minister said, "Observer status will give Canada the opportunity to deepen its understanding of next-generation combat air capabilities, strengthen our industrial collaboration and contribute more closely to the partnerships that will define the future of air power." The three partner countries launched the program to replace the Eurofighter Typhoons and Japan's F-2 jets, and set a timeline to bring the new fighter into service by 2035. Experts cautioned the planned new fighter jet is still in the very early stages of development.