BERLIN — Germany is exploring at least three different strategies to replace the failed Future Combat Air System (FCAS) fighter project, Defense Minister Boris Pistorius revealed Tuesday, as another senior official suggested at least a “fifth-gen-plus” effort is a must.
Speaking to German outlet DW, Pistorius said Berlin is weighing whether to acquire additional American-made F-35 fifth-generation combat aircraft as a sort of “bridge” option, join an existing international sixth-generation program or develop a nationally led effort headed by Airbus.
“A fourth option may emerge but I don’t want to talk about it,” Pistorius added. “But nothing is ready for a decision yet.”
Another senior German defense official, Air Force Chief Lt. Gen. Holger Neumann, told reporters at the Berlin Air Show today that whatever the new option is, the air force remains focused on a crewed platform that can connect with a combat cloud, “pretty much the same idea in the US, UK, and GCAP [Global Combat Air Programme].”
GCAP, a team-up between the UK, Italy and Japan, is the lone surviving European sixth-gen fighter project, though industry officials have previously suggested it would be difficult to change the “core team.”
Neumann declined to comment on the collapse of FCAS, but said he has requested the German Ministry of Defense procure “fifth-gen-plus platforms beyond 2035.” He added, “I’m not saying the new system has to be ready [in 2035], but we have to pick up there.”
Berlin decided to formally bring the curtain down on the New Generation Fighter (NGF), the center piece of FCAS, on Monday, following a long-running dispute over leadership and workshare between Airbus and French partner Dassault.
Prior to the collapse of NGF and perhaps in a preview of the options Pistorius floated, Airbus had opted for a two-aircraft approach where it would pursue development of a sixth-generation fighter with other willing industry partners, leaving France to develop a separate aircraft.
The Financial Times reported earlier this week that the European giant will lead a collection of eight aerospace and defense suppliers comprising Autoflug, Diehl Defence, Hensoldt, Liebherr, MBDA, MTU Aero Engines and Rohde & Schwarz, proposing a new NGF alternative to Berlin, under the banner Team Gen 6. The moniker is a reference to developing cutting edge fighter technology. Airbus declined to comment on for this report.
UPDATED 6/11/2026 at 4:30am ET to make a description of the air chief’s comments more precise.
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