German companies have announced the formation of Team Gen 6, a new industry group aimed at taking responsibility for the development of the sixth generation fighter jet following the collapse of FCAS.
Airbus announced at the ongoing ILA Berlin 2026 that German industry will come together to form “Team Gen 6” to develop a sovereign European sixth-generation fighter aircraft. The announcement follows the recent collapse of the next-generation fighter project of the Future Combat Air System/Système de Combat Aérien du Futur (FCAS/SCAF) program.
The company said that following the ‘reorganization’ of FCAS, critical ‘system of systems’ development is progressing as before, but the sixth-generation fighter aircraft integrated within it requires a new, agile industrial setup. Therefore, eight major German defense and aviation companies signed a strategic positioning document to continue the work started under the NGF project.
An exciting step for European sovereignty at ILA Berlin: “Team Gen 6”, a group of eight major German defense and aviation companies, has signed a strategic positioning document. The German and French governments have announced a reorganization of Europe’s future combat air systems. pic.twitter.com/aZcjAaO6dE
— Airbus Defense (@AirbusDefence) June 11, 2026
In addition to Airbus, other companies are also participating, including Autoflug, Diehl Defence, Hensoldt, Lliebherr, MBDA Deutschland, MTU Aero Engines and Rohde&Schwarz. Together with the German industrial group, the Spanish group also forms Indra, Airbus, Grupo Oesia, GMV, ITP Aero and Sener.
“As a sixth-generation team, we have the capabilities and capabilities,” the joint statement said. “We are now seeking closer collaboration with policymakers and the Air Force to drive a superior European air warfare system for collective security.”
Jean-Brice Dumont, head of air power at Airbus Defense & Space, said the industry is preparing options for governments and the military to decide how to proceed after FCAS.
“Currently, we will be seeking guidance from the government on what they want to do. There needs to be a demonstration of not only the technical but also the industrial feasibility of what is required,” Dumont said. flights global.
At the same time, Dumont emphasized that the work done so far to develop the NGF and the overall FCAS should not be wasted. “We need to protect the areas in which it operates and consider how to reconfigure them,” he said.
6th generation concept
Along with the joint statement, Airbus also released a short video demonstrating the basics of the FCAS alternative. The company is positioning itself as a leader in new projects.
The video begins with some views of the Eurofighter Typhoon, Dornier Anti Radar drone, LOUT Low-Observable UAV testbed, A330 MRTT and EADS Barracuda. “The foundation is proven,” the video says, referring to the know-how gained through various programs in the Airbus portfolio.
The company then shows a concept (perhaps conceptual) of a proposed NGF alternative, saying it is ready for the future. Many have already pointed out some similarities with another sixth-generation aircraft, the Boeing F-47, but this concept is merely a placeholder and may not have anything to do with the new project at all.
The aircraft is noticeably different from previous NGF renderings, which showed a more traditional twin-engine aircraft with lambda wings, highly raked tail surfaces and so-called “armpit” air intakes. In fact, new renderings show what appears to be a completely different twin engine design, negative dihedral gull wings, canard fronts and a single ventral turnless supersonic intake (DSI).
The aircraft was shown to operate as two different unmanned platforms. This includes both the newly announced U760 Ravenstorm and the previously announced Loyal Wingman for the FCAS program.
The latter is one of the surviving systems developed as part of the FCAS realignment. In fact, Germany and France have announced that they will continue research into drone systems and related data networks.
FCAS reduction
The announcement of the impending collapse of the FCAS program was reported by French newspapers just days before ILA Berlin 2026. tribune german outlet Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. Both acknowledged serious disagreements over program management between Airbus and Dassault Aviation, ultimately unable to find common ground.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron attempted to save the program. However, mediation efforts failed because Dassault wanted a greater share of the work, while Airbus wanted an equal share.
These inconsistencies resulted in the program remaining in Phase 1B technology development, which was scheduled to lead to Phase 2, which involved the development and production of a demonstrator aircraft. The initial goal was to begin flight testing of the demonstrator in 2026 and field the next-generation fighter in 2040, but that schedule has already slipped to at least 2045.
The decision to end the program was reportedly taken at the EU-Balkan summit in Montenegro last week, where Merz and Macron met separately from the event to discuss the matter. But both leaders decided to continue developing drone systems and associated data networks.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius later confirmed that the NGF had indeed disappeared. “This was an ambitious, large-scale European project, but now it is collapsing in the face of reality,” he said.
The Minister described the newly announced Team Gen 6 as “conceivable and a possibility”. But he also said he was considering alternatives, including purchasing additional F-35 Lightning II aircraft or participating in other aircraft development programs.
Leonardo CEO Lorenzo Mariani welcomed Germany’s potential participation in the Global Combat Aviation Program (GCAP), especially “in terms of capabilities and cost sharing.” But Mariani also warned that the 2035 deadline could be delayed if new members join the program.
