AirbusForms ‘Team Gen 6’ to Pursue Next‑Generation Fighter Following FCAS Collapse

BERLIN — Following the cancellation of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) fighter program, Airbus and seven other leading German defense and aerospace firms have formed “Team Gen 6,” declaring their readiness to develop a sixth‑generation fighter.

Led by Airbus, with Diehl Defence, Hendsoldt, Liebherr, MBDA Germany, MTU Aero Engines and Rhode and Schwarz, the companies signed a positioning paper at the Berlin Air Show committing to the new effort.

The Next Generation Fighter, the centrepiece of the long‑troubled French‑German‑Spanish FCAS programme, was cancelled this week, although German officials told Breaking Defense that they will preserve the combat‑cloud component and related technologies.

“Although work on the overarching ‘System of Systems’ continues as planned, the 6th‑generation fighter integrated into it will require a new, agile industrial framework,” Airbus announced on social media. The partnership was earlier reported by The Financial Times.

In addition to the German participants, Airbus noted that Spanish firms are also organising, following interest from Indra, GMV, Grupo Oesia, Sener and ITP Aero.

The announcement followed comments by Jean‑Brice Dumout, Airbus Defence and Space’s head of airpower, who told reporters at the show that the company is “naturally ready to support whatever happens” as Berlin considers its options.

On Wednesday, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius suggested several paths forward, including purchasing additional F‑35 fifth‑generation aircraft, joining an existing international sixth‑generation programme such as the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), advancing an Airbus‑led initiative — potentially an early reference to Team Gen 6 — or opting for an undefined fourth alternative.

Dumout added, “We must protect the technology pillars of FCAS that are working well and examine how to reshape those closely tied to the aircraft, which is challenging. At present we are awaiting clear guidance from our government, which is essential. Demonstrated industrial feasibility — not just technical capability — is required for any proposal, and we have presented several options to our defence ministers.”

Dumout stressed that, although the Next Generation Fighter programme has been shelved, “we have not wasted our time,” noting that technologies developed for the cancelled aircraft can be reused.

He said, “We need a different approach with a faster mindset to achieve the same objective.”

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