TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani is arranging a visit to Britain in January to discuss progress on the joint development of a new fighter jet with his counterpart, John Healey, government sources said Monday.

Nakatani and Healey may discuss plans under consideration for Saudi Arabia to join the Global Combat Air Program, a joint initiative by Japan, Britain and Italy to develop and deploy the next-generation combat aircraft by 2035, they said.

British government sources have said London is considering offering defense industrial cooperation and engineer training in exchange for financial contributions from Riyadh.

Nakatani may visit the GCAP International Government Organization, an international body set up last week in southern England to manage the fighter development plan, according to the sources.

The two defense chiefs are expected to review progress on joint military exercises under the Reciprocal Access Agreement, which took effect last year, and reaffirm plans to enhance their cooperation. Britain plans to deploy its aircraft carrier strike group to the Indo-Pacific region next year.

The GCAP was launched in 2022 as Japan and European countries have strengthened security cooperation in response to China's increasing military activities in the Indo-Pacific region and Russia's invasion of Ukraine.