6th Generation Fighter's Ranked

[SolarWarden]

In the logic of business cooperation in China, there is a taboo!

Any project should absolutely prohibit multiple partners with similar capabilities from joining with a balanced shareholding structure.

Both FCAS and GCAP violated this taboo! Therefore, the FCAS project came to an end. Let's see how long GCAP can last...

Japan joined GCAP that will likely give it staying power and Germany will also likely have to join or buy more F-35's.

 

[Ali_Baba]

There is more to suggest that the GCAP programme will progress to completion than not right now.

The issue right now is the bureaucrats of the UK MOD which is delaying the prgramme in light of the 30000th "UK Defense Review" and all projects and procurements get delayed when they do that, it is not just the GCAP that is being affected. There has been no political movement against the GCAP programme or it's costs, it is quite the opposite given what is going on in Ukraine. It is the bureaucrats being bureaucrats unfortunately.

Both Canada, and Australia have also emerged as countries that have indicated an interest to purchase the GCAP platform and to also contribute technologically to the platform(given that the workshare has been allocated, this will be an interesting discussion as both Italy and Japan have said they do not want this to be reopened to ensure the project remains on time and on track without new horse trading).

Time will tell, but reading the political situation in the UK, I do think GCAP will progress to completion. There is too much of the UK aerospace industry riding on it for it to not.

The Tempest Combat Air Flying Demonstrator is scheduled to take its first test flight by 2027 with manufacturing in progress right now, so that will establish facts on the ground that will be difficult for the government to stall on, especially given how important it is to Japan, a key ally and investor in the UK.

Some pictures of some component manufacturing as early as 2025 :

This Is What The UK’s New Stealth Fighter Demonstrator Will Look Like

The demonstrator for the Tempest program is the first new fighter design to be developed in the UK in 40 years. The demonstrator for the Tempest program is the first new fighter design to be developed in the UK in 40 years.

www.twz.com

 

[Michael]

Germany And Spain Launch ‘Team Gen 6’ After Europe’s Next-Gen Fighter Effort Collapses​

Germany And Spain Launch ‘Team Gen 6’ After Europe’s Next-Gen Fighter Effort Collapses

The emerging coalition could reshape Europe’s future fighter landscape, but it still needs political backing, lots of funding, and likely more partners. The emerging coalition could reshape Europe’s future fighter landscape, but it still needs political backing, lots of funding, and likely more...

www.twz.com

 

[Ali_Baba]

Germany And Spain Launch ‘Team Gen 6’ After Europe’s Next-Gen Fighter Effort Collapses​

Germany And Spain Launch ‘Team Gen 6’ After Europe’s Next-Gen Fighter Effort Collapses

The emerging coalition could reshape Europe’s future fighter landscape, but it still needs political backing, lots of funding, and likely more partners. The emerging coalition could reshape Europe’s future fighter landscape, but it still needs political backing, lots of funding, and likely more...

www.twz.com

The engine development may represent a significant risk to the programme for MTU Aero Engines to be able to develop a solution. They could repurpose the EJ200 initially of course, but that may restrict the size of the overall platform.

Now that France is out of the equation, it is possible for this Team Gen 6 programme to access the same engine that is being built for GCAP, as the politics of the "French" won't get in the way if MTU Aero Engines runs into a roadblock.

"The kind of aircraft that the Swedes seem to be thinking about, the crewed element is probably more of a bigger Gripen E/F, heading towards Typhoon, in terms of size. This is more in keeping with what the Germans and the Spanish seem to be looking for. Obviously, the United Kingdom and Japan, in particular, need something with longer legs and bigger internal payload, hence GCAP.”

Good luck to Team Gen 6 !