"One EU 6th Gen Fighter Development Collapses" Topic

"The collapse of Europe's premier sixth-generation fighter jet program stems from irreconcilable design requirements, severe industrial disputes, and corporate power struggles. France and Germany officially scrapped the core combat aircraft portion of the €100.00 EUR billion Future Combat Air System (FCAS). [1, 2, 3]

Root Causes of the Failure
* Conflicting Military Requirements: France wanted a lighter, carrier-capable aircraft designed to carry nuclear weapons. Conversely, Germany pushed for a heavier air-superiority fighter designed primarily to replace Eurofighter fleets. [1, 2]
* Industrial and Corporate Deadlock: Prime contractors Dassault Aviation and Airbus were locked in a months-long standoff over intellectual property, leadership control, and workshare distribution. Neither manufacturer was willing to yield dominance over the aircraft's core systems. [1, 2, 3]
* Philosophical Differences: German leadership openly questioned the necessity of a manned sixth-generation fighter, whereas France was deeply committed to developing the crewed jet as the linchpin of their air dominance doctrine. [1]

Broader Impacts and Alternatives
* Stalled European Defense Integration: The failure of the joint FCAS pillar is viewed as a major setback to the European Union's ambitions for defense autonomy and a united industrial base. [1, 2]
* Alternative Procurement: With the homegrown sixth-generation project in limbo, participating countries are being forced to explore purchasing off-the-shelf alternatives like the American F-35 or reallocating budgets to advanced 4.5-generation fighters. [1, 2, 3]
* Rival European Programs: While the Franco-German effort collapsed, a separate sixth-generation initiative—the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) led by the UK, Italy, and Japan—remains active and successfully signed its first joint contracts."

Subject: Franco-German Future Fighter Effort Collapses Over Irreconcilable Differences


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Great! (disgust not elation)

Our Pentagon doesn't cancel. We just plow ahead.

On John, the Pentagon cancels, but only after poor a ton of taxpayer dollars into the corporate coffers. THey only plow ahead when they have billions spent on things they can't hide or desperately need.

LCS, Booker, Railgun, the new frigate, USS Ford. New GPS system control. F35.

DOD is the only department to have never passed an audit. From 2022 link

Yet no one in administration seems to talk about fraud in the military. hmmm.

France and Germany disagree? I'm shocked I tell you, shocked! It's almost like a colonial power who still fights expeditionary wars in West Africa has different needs than one of the main sources of resistance to a Russian invasion. Morons should have recognized this from the start.

Yes Smith, my initial thoughts when I read it. 😉

Anyone who has ever followed Cold War Franco German attempts at military design cooperation was not surprised in the least.

They have always had different needs and design philosophies.

Germany has announced its intention to purchase more F35's from the US. Meaning they get the fighter they need and American industry gets an additional boost.

As far as the Pentagon procurement process goes, quite a few of the brass that used to handle that have been removed by the SoW (hence the wailing and gnashing of teeth).

But, the main culprits remain, the congress and their pork projects.

Today Germany announced a new collaborative development with Spain. link

Wildly different needs does not bode well for the "next generation" fighter.
To be honest, France needs to suppress Bad Guy Technicals in Toyota pickup trucks.
Germany needs to beat an incompetent "modern" armored aggressor.

Who ever thought that their needs were compatible? Politicians.