Airbus-led Alliance Pushes for Germany's Role in Next-Gen Fighter Jet Project
Industry Consortium Advances Sixth-Generation Fighter Jet Initiative
BERLIN, June 9 (Reuters) - A group of defence companies led by Airbus has submitted a position paper on a sixth-generation fighter jet project to the German government, signalling an industry push to shape Europe's future combat jet programme amid uncertainty about its direction.
Formation and Composition of "Team Gen 6"
The group, dubbed "Team Gen 6", comprises Airbus Defence and Space, Autoflug, Diehl Defence, Hensoldt, Liebherr, MBDA, MTU Aero Engines and Rohde & Schwarz.
Purpose of the Position Paper
The companies drafted the paper outlining their potential contribution to the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a Hensoldt spokesperson said.
Media Coverage and Industry Response
The Financial Times first reported the paper.
Context: Previous Fighter Jet Projects and Government Response
Industry sources said the move did not amount to an attempt to launch a new fighter project following the collapse of a Franco-German flagship effort to develop a next-generation combat jet.
Statements from German Defence Officials
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Tuesday that problems surrounding FCAS had been evident "for quite some time" and that Berlin had already been holding talks with stakeholders for months about future options. He declined to comment on leadership or next steps.
Reactions from Companies and Government
The defence ministry confirmed receipt of the paper but declined to comment. Diehl said it aimed to contribute weapons systems to any sixth-generation jet but gave no further details. MBDA declined to comment, while the other companies and the German chancellery did not respond to requests for comment.
(Reporting by Tim Hepher and Friederike Heine. Editing by Mark Potter)
