Germany considers new fighter jet partnership with Sweden and Spain

German defense experts are recommending that the government form a new alliance with Sweden and Spain to develop a next-generation fighter jet. According to internal documents, this proposed partnership is viewed as more advantageous and promising than joining the UK-led Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), which includes Japan and Italy.

The recommendation follows the collapse of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project in June. The FCAS, a joint venture between Germany, France, and Spain intended to replace Eurofighter aircraft by 2040, failed due to prolonged industrial disputes between Airbus Defence & Space and Dassault regarding production shares and leadership.

German officials expressed concerns that the GCAP's operational focus might not align with the specific requirements for continental European missions. Additionally, there are doubts regarding the limitations of joining an established program. Saab CEO Micael Johansson noted that while a collaboration could be built on shared capabilities, it would require political and industrial consensus.