BELFAST — With the Berlin Air Show set to draw more than 100,000 attendees, the future of Europe’s troubled trilateral Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program and its key fighter‑jet component are expected to dominate discussions.
Organizers anticipate more than 750 exhibitors from 37 nations will showcase their products, yet the New Generation Fighter (NGF) — the cornerstone of FCAS — will not be present. This absence underscores ongoing delays in Germany‑France negotiations and a contentious workshare dispute between Airbus and Dassault.
Although a definitive schedule for the Berlin‑Paris meeting remains uncertain, Airbus has recently proposed a twin‑fighter approach that could terminate the joint effort with Dassault.
Further suggesting that the partnership between the two European aerospace leaders may be unraveling, Dassault CEO Eric Trappier told reporters in March, “We will seek other partners if necessary.”
Beyond the FCAS controversy, Berlin and the surrounding region are also being tested by shifting transatlantic dynamics — marked by President Donald Trump’s criticism of NATO, an erratic stance toward Russia, concerns over Europe’s limited response to Iran, and proposals to withdraw 5,000 U.S. troops from Germany.
The troop reduction follows Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s assertion that the United States is being “humiliated” by Iranian negotiators as Washington and Tehran grapple with a peace agreement. Merz faces considerable domestic pressure, as his coalition battles public discontent over economic challenges and lacks a clear strategy to address them.
Nevertheless, under Merz’s leadership Germany aims to become Europe’s most capable conventional force by increasing defense spending to surpass France and the United Kingdom, a goal it intends to achieve before the decade’s end. The country has unveiled a €377 billion ($438 billion) long‑term rearmament program, encompassing purchases of U.S. platforms such as the F‑35 fifth‑generation fighter, P‑8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft, MQ‑9B SeaGuardian drones, and Tomahawk cruise missiles.
Even amid geopolitical challenges, Berlin shows no signs of altering its commitment to U.S. equipment, and Merz has not indicated any intention to change course. He is slated to inaugurate the air show on Wednesday, with German Air and Space Force Chief Holger Neumann providing the opening defense‑stage address alongside Airbus Defence and Space CEO Michael Schoellhorn.
Exhibitor highlights include Germany’s Heron TP long‑range reconnaissance drone making its debut at the show, as well as Leonardo’s AW249 attack helicopter, which also debuts internationally for the first time.
Notable flying displays feature the Airbus Rapid and Cost‑Efficient Rotorcraft (RACER) high‑speed demonstrator in flight. A civilian‑oriented derivative of this platform, being developed under the European Research Clean Sky 2 initiative, is expected to support NATO’s Next Generation Rotorcraft Capability (NGRC) program, according to Airbus.