Airbus, representing Germany and Spain in FCAS, is open to restructuring the program after years of political and industrial disputes. A possible “two-fighter solution” would let France and Germany develop separate combat aircraft while continuing cooperation on drones, sensors, and digital systems that link the battlefield in real time. The fighter jet may no longer be the central priority, shifting focus toward the broader high-tech air combat system. Airbus says work continues with France, Germany, and Spain to decide the program’s way forward. Airbus leadership argues that deadlock over a single component should not jeopardize the overall capability. FCAS began in 2017 with France and Germany and later included Spain, targeting a sixth-generation air combat system around 2040 and valued near 100 billion.
"Airbus, which represents the German and Spanish side of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), told DW it is open to restructuring the program after years of political and industrial disputes. That could include a "two-fighter solution" allowing France and Germany to develop separate combat aircraft while still cooperating on drones, sensors and the digital systems linking the battlefield in real time."
""On FCAS, work is ongoing with the French, German and Spanish governments to decide on the project's way forward," an Airbus spokesperson told DW. Airbus Chief Executive Guillaume Faury said the wider program still makes sense, even if the fighter jet at its center remains blocked. "The deadlock of a single pillar should not jeopardize the entire future of this high-tech European capability," he said, adding that Airbus would support a two-fighter option if governments asked for it."
"FCAS was launched by France and Germany in 2017, with Spain joining later. Valued at roughly 100 billion ($116 bn), the project aims to deliver a sixth-generation air combat system by around 2040. The program goes far beyond a next-generation fighter jet. It also includes drones, remote carriers, engines and a "combat cloud" designed to connect aircraft, sensors and battlefield data in real time."
#european-defense-cooperation #fcas #next-generation-fighter-jets #drones-and-sensors #military-digital-systems
Read at www.dw.com
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