German-Led Team Gen 6 Launches New Sixth-Generation Fighter Project in Berlin

A coalition of eight defense firms, headed by Airbus, is set to launch a new sixth-generation fighter jet project named "Team Gen 6" in Berlin on Thursday, backed by the German government. This initiative aims to compensate for the recent collapse of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program involving France, Germany, and Spain, according to reports from Agence France-Presse.

Following the disintegration of the FCAS program, a fresh German-led effort to develop a next-generation fighter has taken shape, as reported by Euronews. Airbus stated that the consortium will be officially inaugurated in Berlin, with further details to be disclosed during a signing ceremony at the International Aerospace Exhibition (ILA) in the German capital.

The new project seeks to advance the development of a sixth-generation fighter jet after the previous European program failed due to tensions between the Franco-German Airbus and the French Dassault Aviation. These disagreements culminated in Berlin and Paris abandoning the project on Monday after months of disputes.

Airbus revealed that the participating companies have already submitted a position paper to German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius, outlining their vision for the sixth-generation fighter's development. The alliance is urging the German government to ensure that contract awards are completed "fully and on schedule" by the second half of 2026, based on a document reviewed by the agency.

A source familiar with the project indicated that the agreement might be signed privately among the participating companies as early as Wednesday.

The "Team Gen 6" initiative will be predominantly led by Germany and will include Airbus, the European missile manufacturer MBDA, and six German companies: Hensoldt, Diehl Defence, MTU Aero Engines, Liebherr, Autoflug, and Rohde & Schwarz.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius told reporters on Tuesday that the project is "feasible and one of the options under consideration," adding that Berlin is also exploring alternatives such as purchasing additional American F-35 fighters or joining other aircraft development programs. He noted that discussions with various "stakeholders" on this matter have been ongoing for months.

Internal conflicts within the FCAS project intensified during the summer of 2025 when Dassault Aviation demanded greater control over the program, provoking dissatisfaction among politicians in Berlin and Airbus officials. The FCAS project, launched in 2017 with Spain joining in 2019, was regarded as a key European defense collaboration. Its collapse is seen as a setback to efforts aimed at strengthening European military capabilities amid increasing security threats from Russia.