Tom Enders, the former CEO of Airbus, has publicly warned against the German government's plans to develop a new future combat aircraft without international partners. In an article published in Handelsblatt, Enders described such an approach as 'going down the wrong path' and a 'strategic mistake,' emphasizing the economic and technological risks. His criticism specifically concerns a potential departure from the joint FCAS project with France and Spain in favor of a national program.
Warning of a strategic mistake
Tom Enders calls a national fighter jet program a strategic mistake that risks technological and economic isolation for Germany.
Risk to the FCAS project
Enders' criticism points to serious tensions in the trilateral FCAS alliance between Germany, France, and Spain.
Economic and technological arguments
The former Airbus chief argues that only international cooperation can bear the costs and complexity of a sixth-generation project.
A prominent figure in the European aerospace industry, former Airbus CEO Tom Enders, has issued sharp criticism of German plans for a future fighter jet. In an article published in the Handelsblatt newspaper, Enders described the direction being considered by Berlin, involving the development of an aircraft without the participation of international partners, as a 'strategic mistake' and 'going down the wrong path.' In his view, such a path would mean technological isolation for Germany, disproportionately high costs, and a loss of influence over the shape of future standards in combat aviation. The FCAS (Future Combat Air System) project is a flagship undertaking of the European defense industry, initiated in 2017 by an agreement between Germany and France, which Spain later joined. Its goal is to create a comprehensive sixth-generation air system by 2040, encompassing not only a new fighter jet but also drones and networked combat systems, which is intended to provide Europe with strategic autonomy in the field of air defense. Enders, who for years led one of the pillars of the FCAS consortium, points to fundamental challenges. Developing a next-generation fighter jet is an endeavor estimated to cost tens of billions of euros, requiring state-of-the-art technologies, from engines and materials to advanced electronics and artificial intelligence.