Published on 09/06/2026 - 14:33 GMT+2

A group headed by Airbus has put forward plans for a new advanced fighter jet following the breakdown of a prominent Franco-German aircraft development effort, according to one participating firm that spoke with the AFP news agency on Tuesday.

The announcement arrives one day after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron terminated the original initiative amid extended disputes among the industrial partners involved.

Munich-based Hensoldt has partnered with Airbus Defence and Space, Autoflug, Diehl Defence, Rohde & Schwarz, Liebherr, MBDA and MTU Aero Engines to craft this alternative proposal.

A company representative confirmed the plan was delivered to German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius. The Financial Times, which first covered the effort, noted it was also forwarded to Merz's office.

The firms have prepared a joint position paper on the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) and the linked Next Generation Weapon System (NGWS), the spokesperson stated.

Additional details are scheduled for release on Thursday at the Berlin ILA Air Show.

A setback for European defence integration

Germany's defence ministry verified the proposal. Pistorius indicated Berlin is now weighing its options for the path forward.

Discussions with multiple stakeholders have continued for months, he noted.

Pistorius described the collapse of the initial Franco-German project as deeply disappointing.

He recognized the value of Franco-German cooperation across Europe yet emphasized the need to separate rational decisions from emotional ties.

The FCAS programme was regarded as a premier European defence initiative intended to strengthen military partnerships as Europe confronts a more assertive Russia and increasingly tense relations with the United States.

Still, the effort encountered prolonged disagreements between France's Dassault Aviation and Airbus, the main industrial partner for Germany and a significant partner for Spain.

German participants resisted Dassault's attempts to gain greater control over aircraft development.

Merz has also noted that Germany, unlike France, does not need fighter jets equipped for nuclear weapons or aircraft carrier operations.