Airbus pushes for FCAS demonstrators in France, Germany and Spain
Airbus is proposing three Next Generation Fighter (NGF) demonstrators, based partly on legacy Rafale and Eurofighter parts, for the Future Combat Aircraft System (FCAS) programme in France, Germany and Spain.
The move arrives in the wake of criticism from Airbus Defence Works Council and German metalworkers' union IG Metall that if only one prototype is built by Dassault in France, using a Rafale-based design, then FCAS will become an effort mainly favouring France, but heavily financed by Germany.
‘If Germany does not build its own demonstrator, this [Tornado and Eurofighter technology] know-how will be lost,’ Bernhard Stiedl, Ingolstadt IG Metall
Already have an account? Log in
Want to keep reading this article?
More from Defence Notes
-
Ireland spells out $2.3 billion shopping list in five-year defence spending plan
Ireland’s multi-annual investment in capital defence spending is set to rise from €300m in 2026 to €360m in 2029–2030 with major upgrades across land, air, maritime and cyber domains.
-
Canada set to look away from its neighbour and across the Atlantic for partners
While non-EU UK struggles to join the Security Action for Europe initiative, which provides loans for defence programmes, Canada has become the first country outside Europe to get access – and did so for a nominal fee.
-
NATO experiments with solutions to integrate networks, AI and uncrewed systems
During the latest edition of the NATO DiBaX, the alliance tested multiple capabilities to inform requirements for future efforts.
-
Leonardo unveils plans for Michelangelo air defence dome
The new multi-layered defence system will harness AI to neutralise airborne threats and protect Europe from Russian aggression.