Germany weighs involvement in British-led sixth‑generation fighter programme

Germany is evaluating participation in the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a sixth‑generation fighter developed by Britain, Italy and Japan, and is also considering a partnership with Sweden and Spain, according to the German Ministry of Defence, which confirmed initial contacts but gave no details on a participation model.

Internal documents cite obstacles such as limited industrial space and doubts about the programme’s fit with German Armed Forces needs, noting the maritime focus of GCAP versus Germany’s continental focus, while also highlighting BAE Systems’ influence from its Eurofighter cooperation experience; GCAP received a £4.6 billion contract in July and targets service entry in 2035, with aircraft development entering its final phases before the decade’s end.