Aviation News – Airbus would support a two-fighter structure for Europe’s troubled Future Combat Air System (FCAS) if partner governments request it, opening the door to a major redesign of the continent’s flagship next-generation combat aircraft programme and potentially reshaping Europe’s defence industry balance.
The remarks were made by Airbus Chief Executive Guillaume Faury during a results presentation, amid a continuing dispute with French partner Dassault Aviation over leadership of the programme’s core fighter jet element. Airbus represents German and Spanish interests in the tri-nation project, while Dassault leads the manned “Next Generation Fighter,” creating tensions over control, design authority and industrial share.
The FCAS concept links a crewed stealth fighter with autonomous drones and a combat cloud network, designed to replace current European fleets such as Rafale and Eurofighter in the 2040s. A potential two-fighter solution could see parallel development tracks or complementary aircraft roles, offering flexibility but adding complexity to costs and coordination. Industry observers say the approach might reduce political friction by allowing each nation greater industrial participation while still sharing common technologies.
