Europe’s fighter jet plans are in disarray. What happens next?
While the UK and Italy are making progress, France and Germany’s joint venture came to nothing, and the prospect of more countries pulling together seems way off
TL;DR
- Germany and France's joint future combat air system (FCAS) for a next-generation fighter jet has been cancelled.
- Disagreements over leadership between Dassault Aviation (France) and Airbus Defence and Space (Germany), and differing requirements (carrier capability for France) led to the breakdown.
- France plans to proceed with its own fighter jet, while Germany may join the UK, Italy, and Japan's Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), which is developing the Tempest jet.
- The defence industry warns that multiple competing European fighter jet programs would be uneconomical and could lead to fragmentation.
- Fighter jet programs require orders in the hundreds to be economical, a scale difficult for any single European nation.
- The development of sixth-generation fighters includes AI, advanced stealth, and drone integration, with a focus on potential drone swarms supporting crewed aircraft.
- The economic viability and industrial workshare are critical factors, with companies like Rolls-Royce open to Germany joining GCAP, while others emphasize the need for initial agreements.
- There's a race to develop these advanced aircraft, with demonstrators potentially flying as early as 2031 and operational by 2035.