Airbus is spearheading "Team Gen 6," a new German-led consortium to develop a sixth-generation combat aircraft. Announced at the ILA Berlin Air Show, the initiative includes seven major German defense and aviation firms.
The move follows the collapse of the decade-long Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project. This original partnership was valued at over €100 billion. Persistent disagreements between France’s Dassault Aviation and Airbus over industrial leadership and intellectual property rights caused the dissolution.
Team Gen 6 aims to salvage technological progress and includes industry leaders such as Hensoldt, Diehl Defence, and MTU Aero Engines. Spanish companies led by Indra have formed a parallel group, indicating a potential German-Spanish collaboration on the new fighter jet.