Germany, Spain, and France agree to continue development of a sixth-generation fighter

France, Germany and Spain have reached an agreement to begin the next phase of development of a European sixth-generation fighter.

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The aircraft is being developed as part of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program worth more than €100 billion. The German Defense Ministry said an agreement was reached between the parties after intensive negotiations.

German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said the new agreement is a big step and an important sign of Franco-German-Spanish cooperation. She also noted that the deal not only strengthens the military capabilities of each of the three countries, but is also important for the entire European military industry.

The cost of the new development phase of the sixth generation fighter is about €3.5 billion, with the costs to be shared equally between Germany, Spain and France. The aircraft will appear in 2040. It will replace Eurofighter Typhoon and Dassault Rafale fighters. The project involves Dassault (France), Indra (Spain) and Airbus (Germany).

Source: Reuters