Germany launches Team Gen 6 alliance to develop next‑generation fighter after FCAS collapse

Germany’s defence industry has created a “Team Gen 6” alliance that brings together Airbus Defence and Space, Autoflug, Diehl Defence, Hensoldt, Liebherr, MBDA, MTU Aero Engines and Rohde & Schwarz. The consortium aims to preserve a sovereign route to a sixth‑generation combat aircraft after the joint Franco‑German‑Spanish Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme collapsed. The alliance would focus on air‑superiority capabilities, advanced sensors, electronic warfare, weapons integration, propulsion and secure communications, providing Berlin with a fallback option if FCAS fails to deliver.

At the same time, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said Germany is weighing several alternatives, including buying more US‑made F‑35s as a bridge, joining the UK‑Italy‑Japan Global Combat Air Programme, or pursuing a nationally led effort. He added, “nothing is ready for a decision yet.” Air Force Chief Lt. Gen. Holger Neumann stressed the need for a crewed platform that can link to a combat cloud, noting it is “pretty much the same idea in the US, UK, and GCAP.” The Team Gen 6 proposal is a position paper rather than a new programme, but signals Berlin’s intent to keep its expertise in next‑generation air combat.