Germany wants to speed up development of joint-use drones for the sixth-generation fighter jet

Despite all the rumours, Germany remains in the project to develop the sixth-generation FCAS fighter. In addition, Berlin wants to accelerate the development of drones to work together with manned aircraft.

Here's What We Know

Many countries now see the future in the use of fighter jets and UAVs. For example, the US wants to build a minimum of 1,000 drones as part of the CCA (Collaborative Combat Aircraft) project for the F-35A Lightning II and the sixth-generation fighter. Poland, too, wants to use the F-35A along with drones.

Germany believes it can get Collaborative Combat Aircraft drones much sooner than Europe's sixth-generation aircraft. Spain and France are also working on it. The head of the German Air Force, Lieutenant General Ingo Gerhartz, said.

Germany calls the drones for fighter jets remote carriers. Their task will be reconnaissance, surveillance, electronic jamming and strike. The small UAVs will be used to assault enemy air defences, destroying enemy surface-to-air missile systems and luring out expensive interceptors.

In developing remote carriers, Berlin intends to use its own missile technology that has been created under other projects. For example, in the creation of the Taurus long-range cruise missile.

Meanwhile, rumours are circulating in the media that Germany may leave the sixth-generation fighter development project. One of the reasons was the delay. The aircraft is expected to appear only in the 2040s, i.e. 5-10 years later than the Chinese and American fighters. The only obstacle is that the country has already invested about $40 billion in the programme.

Source: Defence News