Eight companies form 'Team Gen 6' to develop new fighter jet after FCAS collapse

Eight European defense firms are forging ahead with a new fighter jet project, dubbed "Team Gen 6," following the dissolution of the ambitious Franco-German Future Combat Air System (FCAS). The consortium, comprising Airbus Defence, MTU, Hensoldt, MBDA, Autoflug, Diehl Defence, Liebherr, and Rohde & Schwarz, aims to fill the void left by the FCAS.

In a strategic position paper released at the ILA air show in Berlin, the companies emphasized the urgency of maintaining momentum. "We must not lose time, must take responsibility from the German side, show capability, and consistently pursue the path to an airborne networked weapon system with strong leadership," the paper stated. This initiative underscores a commitment to national and multinational cooperation in advancing next-generation aerial combat capabilities.

Meanwhile, the Spanish defense industry is mirroring this collaborative spirit. Companies like Indra, Airbus Defence and Space, Grupo Oesia, GMV, ITP, and Sener are forming their own alliance, closely linked with their German counterparts. This dual approach suggests a broader European effort to develop advanced fighter jets, potentially involving Sweden's Saab Gripen as a partner, as the future of air combat systems remains a key focus.

The FCAS project, initiated in 2017 by Germany and France, faltered due to disagreements between key manufacturers Dassault and Airbus. While German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced the project's end, he confirmed that parts of it, specifically the "Combat Cloud" for networking various weapon systems, would continue. The "Team Gen 6" initiative and the Spanish alliance represent the new direction for European air power development.