Airbus-led consortium launches 'Team Gen 6' fighter jet project after FCAS collapse
An eight-company consortium led by Airbus called 'Team Gen 6' is being launched in Berlin to develop a next-generation fighter jet following the collapse of the European FCAS programme. The project includes Airbus, MBDA, and six German firms, with the initiative largely German-led and aimed at developing a sixth-generation combat aircraft. The move represents Europe's attempt to maintain independent military aviation capabilities amid tensions with Russia and the failure of the previous Franco-German FCAS partnership.
Following the abandonment of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme by Germany and France on Monday, an eight-company aerospace consortium dubbed 'Team Gen 6' is being formally launched Thursday in Berlin during the ILA air show. Led by Airbus and including European missile manufacturer MBDA plus six German firms (Hensoldt, Diehl Defence, MTU Aero Engines, Liebherr, Autoflug, and Rohde & Schwarz), the alliance aims to develop a next-generation fighter jet with largely German leadership. The consortium has already submitted a position paper to German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius outlining their vision and urging the government to award contracts fully and on time by the second half of 2026. The FCAS project, which had been launched in 2017 and joined by Spain in 2019, collapsed after months of tensions between Airbus and French manufacturer Dassault, with the conflict intensifying in summer 2025 when Dassault sought greater programme control. German Defence Minister Pistorius indicated the government is considering multiple options, including purchasing additional US F-35 jets or joining other aircraft programmes, though he described the Team Gen 6 project as 'conceivable and one possibility.'
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Airbus-led consortium to launch German-backed fighter jet project after FCAS collapse
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