Germany Weighs Two Fighter Programs After FCAS Split
Boris Pistorius said Germany was considering the UK-Italy-Japan Global Combat Air Programme and a separate Airbus-led European fighter proposal.
FlyMarshall Newsroom1 min read
Photo: AeroTime
At a hearing of the Franco-German Parliamentary Assembly in Berlin on November 9, 2026, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said his country was weighing two options for future fighter development: the UK-Italy-Japan Global Combat Air Programme and a separate proposal led by Airbus.
Key details
- Pistorius spoke alongside French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin.
- Germany was targeting a decision in the first quarter of 2027, according to reporting on his remarks.
- France’s draft 2027 defense budget describes a further New Generation Fighter demonstration phase beginning in 2027, followed by full-scale development in 2029.
Pistorius said Germany was targeting a decision on its next fighter partnership in the first quarter of 2027.
Why it matters
The two options under consideration differ in their international partnerships: one brings together the United Kingdom, Italy and Japan, while the other is a European proposal led by Airbus. France’s draft budget outlines a separate national path for the New Generation Fighter, with development milestones extending into 2029.
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