Germany seeks alternatives for next-generation fighter jet program

Reference News Network reported on February 10 According to the Japan Economic News on February 7, the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung reported on the 5th, citing diplomatic sources, that the German government is considering joining the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). This program is a joint fighter jet development project initiated by Japan, the United Kingdom, and Italy.

Due to setbacks in the joint development program for advanced fighter jets with France and Spain, Germany is privately exploring the possibility of collaborating with Sweden, which has the Gripen fighter jet. As an alternative, cooperation with Sweden seems more competitive, but Germany is also closely monitoring the progress of GCAP.

According to the report, during German Chancellor Merz's visit to Rome in late January, Italian Prime Minister Meloni expressed a positive attitude towards expanding the GCAP cooperation mechanism. Germany's participation could help attract more funding and potentially increase orders, but it would also complicate the role division among the various development companies.

Japan, the UK, and Italy reached an agreement in 2022, aiming to deploy a new type of fighter jet by 2035. The project is jointly undertaken by Japan's Aircraft Industry Revitalization Corporation (funded by companies including Mitsubishi Heavy Industries), the UK's BAE Systems, and Italy's defense giant Leonardo.

The joint fighter jet development project between Germany and France has evolved into a struggle for dominance, as the two countries have different specific requirements for the fighter jet. Currently, the two countries are still negotiating how to advance the development plan.

Additionally, according to the German Handelsblatt website on February 5, the joint military project "Future Combat Air System" (FCAS), involving Germany, France, and Spain, has encountered significant difficulties for months. The participating companies, France's Dassault Aviation and Germany's Airbus, have had intense disputes over the division of labor. Dassault has demanded to take the lead on the project. Its CEO, Eric Trappier, stated that Germany is simply not capable of manufacturing aircraft. This remark has angered the German side.

German Chancellor Merz stated that Germany is engaging in "in-depth dialogue" with France regarding joint development and manufacturing of aircraft. Members of Germany's ruling parties, the Christian Democratic Union and the Social Democratic Party, as well as the German Metalworkers' Union, have called for Germany to no longer partner with Dassault.

An executive in the industry told Handelsblatt: "We must go our separate ways." This means that the project, which is expected to invest 100 billion euros and aims to become a model of European military cooperation, will not be able to proceed as originally planned.

Alternative solutions must now be sought. Michael Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, recently described his vision: Germany and France could each develop their own fighter jets.

This raises the question: with which partners can Germany collaborate to develop fighter jets?

Bastian Giegerich, director of the International Institute for Strategic Studies based in London, said: "I can't understand how anyone thinks France and Germany can jointly develop a fighter jet." He noted that so far, the Germans have always collaborated with the British on fighter jet development. Giegerich stated: "It would be foolish to exclude the UK from alternative options."

Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto is currently vigorously promoting GCAP as superior to FCAS and emphasizing that Germany could join in the future. He mentioned that Austria has expressed a willingness to participate. Reports indicate that Italian Prime Minister Meloni has also recently told German Chancellor Merz that Germany could participate in GCAP.

Furthermore, Italian media have reported that the three founding member countries of the program—Japan, the UK, and Italy—are formulating conditions for new partners to join.

If Germany decides not to participate in the joint project of the three countries, then Sweden's Saab Group, which produces the Gripen fighter jet, could serve as a potential partner. Saab's CEO, Micael Johansson, stated in an interview with Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung at the end of 2025 that his group is generally willing to collaborate with Germany's Airbus on developing a new type of fighter jet, but political will is a necessary condition for cooperation. Additionally, he mentioned that Sweden hopes to maintain "independence" in technology. (Translated by Liu Lin and Wang Qing)