Politics · Germany · 1 day ago
Germany weighs two future fighter jet options, with decision due in early 2027
Germany’s FCAS fighter project with France and Spain has failed, leaving it to consider alternatives for a future combat aircraft.
Defence Minister Boris Pistorius says the government is weighing two options and aims to make a decision in the first quarter of 2027.
One option is for Germany to join the Global Combat Air Programme, which is being developed by the UK, Italy and Japan.
Pistorius says Germany must assess whether joining could cause unacceptable delays to that programme.
The other option is for Airbus and European partners to develop a separate aircraft for the early 2040s, with Germany’s aviation industry involved.
The FCAS project collapsed after French aircraft maker Dassault insisted on a leading role, and Airbus has called for a faster decision.
The choice will shape Germany’s future fighter plans, while the UK-led aircraft is expected to be ready for service from 2035.
Germany is considering joining a fighter-jet programme led by the UK, Italy and Japan or developing a project with Airbus and other European partners.
Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said he aims to make a direction-setting decision in the first quarter of 2027.
He said Germany is in talks about joining the Global Combat Air Programme and is assessing whether its participation could cause unacceptable delays.
Airbus and Japan have signalled that they would prefer a decision by the end of 2026.
The Franco-German-Spanish FCAS project failed after French company Dassault insisted on a dominant role, the articles report.
- Who
- Germany, represented by Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, is weighing its future fighter-jet options.
- What
- It is considering joining the UK-Italy-Japan Global Combat Air Programme or developing a project with Airbus and other European partners.
- When
- Pistorius aims to make a direction-setting decision in the first quarter of 2027.
- Where
- Germany; the potential partnership programme involves the UK, Italy and Japan.
- Why
- The FCAS project failed, and Germany is considering alternatives for a future fighter jet.
Airbus and Japan
Boris Pistorius
Decision timing
Airbus and Japan
Airbus and Japan have indicated they want a decision by the end of 2026.
Boris Pistorius
Pistorius aims to make a direction-setting decision in the first quarter of 2027.
Germany’s participation in GCAP
Airbus and Japan
Japan has signalled interest in a decision on cooperation by the end of 2026.
Boris Pistorius
Pistorius says Germany must assess whether joining could cause delays that would be unacceptable to the partners.
The UK prime minister offered Germany the opportunity to join development of a fighter aircraft under the GCAP programme.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz raised cooperation with Japan on fighter-jet development during a visit to Tokyo.
Airbus defence chief Michael Schoellhorn called for a German decision by the end of 2026.
Pistorius said he aimed to make a direction-setting decision in the first quarter of 2027.
- Options
- Join GCAP or develop a project with Airbus and other European partners
- Decision target
- First quarter of 2027
- GCAP partners
- United Kingdom, Italy and Japan
- GCAP aircraft target
- Expected to be ready for service from 2035
- Alternative project timing
- Early 2040s
- Failed programme
- FCAS, involving Germany, France and Spain
2 sources
What people are saying
My goal is to make a direction-setting decision in the first quarter of next year.
On the table are two options – participation in the Global Combat Air Programme of the British, Italians and Japanese.
We must, for example, examine whether Germany's participation could lead to a greater delay that would be hardly acceptable to all participants.
In Germany there should be a decision by the end of the year that also takes into account the interests of the German aviation industry.