“We cannot afford to waste any more time,” Spanish companies said
Eight German defence and aerospace companies and six Spanish companies have positioned themselves to jointly build a next-generation fighter jet, following Berlin’s exit from their cooperation with France.
Germany and Spain are both looking for alternatives to develop a sixth-generation fighter jet, following Berlin’s decision earlier this week to pull the plug on developing a fighter jet with France and Spain as part of the €100 billion Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme. The move followed more than a year of industry fights between the German and French lead companies and growing understanding that both countries have different needs for the fighter jet.
In a position paper signed on Thursday, the eight German companies call for a quick political decision on how to continue with a corresponding funding commitment in order to maintain current expert teams.
The paper’s signatories, who call themselves “Team Gen 6”, include European aerospace company Airbus Defence and Space, aviation specialist Autoflug, missile manufacturer Diehl Defence, sensor company Hensoldt, equipment manufacturer Liebherr, weapons producer MBDA, specialist for aircraft engines MTU Aero Engines and electronics company Rohde & Schwarz.
