Germany’s defense industry is moving swiftly to fill the void left by the collapse of one of Europe’s most ambitious military projects, with an alliance of major aerospace and defense companies proposing the development of a new sixth-generation fighter aircraft led by Airbus.
The initiative emerges only days after the failure of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a flagship European defense program that had brought together Germany, France, and Spain in an effort to create a next-generation combat aircraft and related technologies. The breakdown of that project has triggered a rapid reassessment within Germany’s defense sector, where industry leaders are now seeking to chart an independent path forward.
At the center of the new effort is Airbus Defence and Space, the defense division of Airbus. Together with seven other companies, it has formed an alliance known as Team Gen 6, a consortium that aims to develop a sixth-generation fighter aircraft designed to be less complex than the aircraft envisioned under the FCAS program.
According to documents reported by German media outlets, including Der Spiegel, the alliance sees an opportunity created by the collapse of the multinational project. In a letter sent to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, the group outlined its intention to jointly pursue the development of a new combat aircraft and called for political support and financial commitments from the German government.
The proposal represents a significant moment for Germany’s aerospace and defense industry. Rather than attempting to recreate the FCAS concept, the alliance has indicated that it intends to pursue a more streamlined approach. Members of the group have emphasized that the goal is not to build a German version of the abandoned European project but to develop a fighter aircraft based on a different set of industrial and technological assumptions.
The alliance argues that Germany’s aerospace sector possesses the expertise necessary to lead a major military aviation program either within a broader European framework or through international partnerships. At the same time, it has stressed that German industry should play a role proportional to Germany’s financial contribution, reflecting long-standing concerns about industrial influence and leadership within multinational defense projects.
Alongside Airbus Defence and Space, the consortium includes European missile manufacturer MBDA and German defense and technology firms Hensoldt, Diehl Defence, Liebherr, MTU Aero Engines, Rohde & Schwarz, and Autopflug. Reports indicate that the alliance is also seeking cooperation with Swedish defense company Saab, potentially widening the project’s European dimension despite its German leadership.
The driving force behind the initiative is reported to be Michael Schöllhorn, the German chief executive of Airbus Defence and Space. Based in Taufkirchen, Bavaria, Schöllhorn has emerged as a prominent voice in the debate over the future of European combat aviation and has pressed German political leaders to provide clarity following the collapse of FCAS.
For now, the project remains in its early stages. The consortium is expected to formally present the alliance during the International Aerospace Exhibition (ILA) in Berlin, one of Europe’s most important aerospace events. The exhibition opened on Wednesday and has become the backdrop for an increasingly important discussion about the future direction of Germany’s defense-industrial strategy.
The announcement comes amid the fallout from the decision to abandon the €100 billion FCAS fighter aircraft program. The project had been intended to serve as Europe’s next-generation combat aviation platform and included participation from Spain through defense company Indra. However, years of industrial disagreements ultimately proved insurmountable.
The central dispute involved Dassault Aviation, the manufacturer of France’s Rafale fighter jet, and Airbus Defence and Space’s German division. The disagreement became a major obstacle to progress and contributed to delays that plagued the program for years.
Speaking at the ILA exhibition, Chancellor Merz acknowledged the breakdown of the joint fighter project. He said Germany and French President Emmanuel Macron had agreed not to proceed with the development of a shared combat aircraft after failing to resolve their differences.
“We were unable to reach an agreement,” Merz told reporters. The decision, he said, brought an end to a stalemate that had persisted for years while also creating new opportunities for industry to pursue alternative approaches to modern fighter aircraft development.
Although the fighter component of FCAS has been abandoned, Merz indicated that other elements of the broader program would continue. These include efforts to develop combat cloud systems and advanced drones, technologies that were intended to operate alongside the next-generation aircraft within an integrated battlefield network.
German government officials echoed the chancellor’s message, portraying the decision as a pragmatic response to a project that had become increasingly difficult to advance. During a press conference, Deputy Government Spokesman Steffen Meyer described the move as a rational choice and suggested that new possibilities were now emerging.
Meyer stressed that Germany would continue discussions within the government, with France, and within the broader European framework regarding future defense cooperation. While he emphasized Berlin’s interest in European solutions, he declined to discuss specific proposals under consideration.
Defense Minister Pistorius had already signaled a willingness to explore multiple options, including the Airbus-led initiative. German officials have repeatedly stressed the importance of preserving advanced aerospace capabilities and technical expertise within the country, viewing the sector as strategically important for decades to come.
That objective has become increasingly central to the debate surrounding Europe’s defense future. As governments across the continent expand military spending and seek greater strategic autonomy, the question of who designs and builds the next generation of combat aircraft has taken on heightened significance.
Against that backdrop, Team Gen 6’s proposal represents more than a new industrial project. It marks the opening of a new phase in Germany’s search for a path beyond FCAS, as political leaders, defense officials, and industry executives weigh how Europe’s largest economy will participate in the next era of military aviation. For now, the alliance is seeking the political backing and financial support needed to transform an emerging concept into a national and potentially European defense program.
