New Delhi: The collapse of a Franco-German joint fighter jet development plan has opened an opportunity for India and France to jointly work on a sixth-generation combat aircraft, with preliminary discussions undertaken at the defence ministers' level earlier this year.The Future Combat Air System (FCAS) scheme came up in 2017 between France and Germany for the development of a future combat aircraft, but things could not move beyond the drawing board due to differences in approach by stakeholders like Airbus and Dassault. The programme has now been called off, with Germany going its own way, with a formal announcement of a new consortium expected shortly.Also read: Russia ready to offer Su-57 & air defence systems to India without any limitations: PutinFor India, which has been looking for a foreign partner to collaborate with futuristic combat aircraft beyond the indigenous Advanced Multirole Combat Aircraft (AMCA) programme, this presents a pathway for co-development.India will also be getting advanced fighter jet engine technology from France under a separate deal. In addition, French Rafale fighter jets will be made in India as part of a $35-billion deal for the Indian Air Force.Sources said discussions for a possible collaboration on sixth-generation fighter jets figured prominently in the talks between defence minister Rajnath Singh and his French counterpart Catherine Vautrin this February.India has explored both FCAS and the Japan-Italy-UK Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), with technical discussions taking place on the programmes. Collaboration with a single reliable partner nation, instead of a group of nations among whom differences can emerge, could be seen as a preferred option.Also read: India seeks global action as 20 killed in PoKWhile India is going alone for the development of a fifth-generation fighter jet under the AMCA programme, a view is emerging that for futuristic sixth-generation fighters, a collaborative partnership would be more feasible, given the development costs involved and tech level required.At a briefing on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming visit to France, MEA said India and France are looking for co-development projects in the defence sector.While India is still working on a fifth-generation fighter jet, US, China and Russia have already operationalised these combat aircraft that are highly stealthy and capable of carrying heavier weapons than legacy fighters.At present, no sixth-generation fighter jet is operational, but China has showcased at least two new types that seem to be of the advanced level. The US is also working on sixth-gen technology under its Next Generation Air Dominance programme.