A model of the Franco-German-Spanish FCAS fighter seen at the 2023 Paris Air Show. (Aaron Mehta/Breaking Defense)
BERLIN — Germany is exploring at least three different strategies to replace the failed Future Combat Air System (FCAS) fighter project, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius revealed Tuesday, as another senior official suggested a sixth-gen effort is a must.
Speaking to German outlet DW, Pistorius said Berlin is weighing whether to acquire additional American-made F-35 fifth-generation combat aircraft as a sort of “bridge” option, join an existing international sixth-generation program or develop a nationally led effort headed by Airbus.
“A fourth option may emerge but I don’t want to talk about it,” Pistorius added. “But nothing is ready for a decision yet.”
Another senior German defense official, Air Force Chief Lt. Gen. Holger Neumann, told reporters at the Berlin Air Show today that whatever the new option is, the air force remains focused on a crewed platform that can connect with a combat cloud, “pretty much the same idea in the US, UK, and GCAP [Global Combat Air Programme].”
