Airbus eyes new fighter jet partnership after Franco-German project collapse

Airbus, Europe’s largest aerospace and defense corporation, better known for its commercial aircraft, is ready to join a British-Japanese-Italian consortium to build a next-generation fighter jet after a rival Franco-German project collapsed, Euronews reported.

Earlier this year, a joint Franco-German project aimed at developing a sixth-generation fighter jet officially collapsed after the two sides failed to reach a compromise. France wanted a nuclear-capable jet designed for deployment from aircraft carriers, while Germany, which has neither aircraft carriers nor nuclear weapons, sought a different design.

Airbus, which represented Germany and Spain in the Franco-German project, is currently seeking other potential partnerships, according to Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury.

One of the options on the table is the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), involving Britain, Japan and Italy as participants and Canada as an observer. The project aims to develop a modern combat aircraft by 2035.

Meanwhile, French manufacturer Dassault Aviation plans to build the fighter jet on its own, in line with the French government’s requirements.

The U.S.-made F-35, produced by Lockheed Martin, is among the world’s most advanced operational fighter aircraft. Its closest competitors include China’s Chengdu J-20 «Mighty Dragon» and Russia’s Su-57.