Business · Companies · 1 day ago
Airbus seeks role in European fighter programme after SCAF collapse
Airbus wants a role in developing Europe's next-generation fighter through an international cooperation programme.
Its CEO, Guillaume Faury, said the UK-, Italy- and Japan-led GCAP is one possible option, not a settled choice.
The proposal follows the collapse of the Franco-German SCAF fighter project in June, after industrial disagreements between Airbus and Dassault Aviation.
Airbus had represented Germany and Spain in SCAF, while Dassault represented France.
Germany is contacting other countries about possible partnerships, Faury said, and Airbus is waiting for governments to decide how to proceed.
GCAP has received £4.6 billion from its three partner countries to continue development, with the aircraft expected to enter service in 2035.
France is also working with Dassault on a national fighter project to succeed the Rafale.
Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury said the company wants to take part in a cooperative European sixth-generation fighter programme.
He described the UK-led Global Combat Air Programme, or GCAP, as one possible option among others.
His comments followed the collapse of the Franco-German-led Future Combat Air System project in June.
Faury said Germany was contacting other countries to explore partnerships and that governments must set out the next steps.
GCAP is being developed by the United Kingdom, Italy and Japan, with service entry planned for 2035.
- Who
- Airbus chief executive Guillaume Faury.
- What
- Airbus is urging cooperation on a future European fighter and is open to joining GCAP.
- When
- October 29, 2026.
- Where
- Faury spoke during a conference call on Airbus’s quarterly results.
- Why
- The Franco-German-led Future Combat Air System project collapsed after industrial disagreements, prompting a search for other partnerships.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The Franco-German-led Future Combat Air System project was abandoned amid industrial disagreements.
The United Kingdom, Italy and Japan allocated £4.6 billion to continue GCAP development.
Canada joined GCAP as its first observer country at the Farnborough air show.
Faury said Airbus wanted to take part in a cooperative European fighter programme and that GCAP was one possible option.
- Airbus chief executive
- Guillaume Faury
- GCAP partners
- United Kingdom, Italy and Japan
- GCAP development funding
- £4.6 billion
- Planned GCAP service entry
- 2035
- First GCAP observer
- Canada
3 sources
What people are saying
We continue fundamentally to believe in the need for a European sixth-generation fighter developed as part of a cooperation programme. We want to be part of this solution for Europe.
The United Kingdom, with GCAP, is one possibility among others.