ILA 2026: Germany weighs post-NGF options

An artist's impression of the future air battlespace, featuring Airbus' concept for the New Generation Fighter. Germany is now weighing its options following the cancellation of the programme. (Airbus via Janes/Gareth Jennings)

Germany is reconsidering its medium- and longer-term future combat aviation options, following the collapse of the New Generation Fighter (NGF) it was developing with France and Spain.

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on 9 June 2026 that the Bundeswehr had three primary options to replace the post-2040 capability gap caused by the cancellation of the NGF element of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS)/Système de Combat Aérien du Futur (SCAF) programme.

“There are several options. One is to order additional F-35s to bridge the gap or for whatever other purpose. The second option is to join another existing ongoing international project, or to launch our own project under German leadership, led by Airbus and other partners. Those are basically the three options on the table. A fourth option may emerge, but I don't want to talk about that right now,” Pistorius told the DW Politics news channel in Germany, adding that no decisions have yet been taken.

The minister's comments came on the same day that the partners of France, Germany and Spain called time on the NGF manned fighter element of FCAS/SCAF, citing irreconcilable differences between the industrial partners of Airbus and Dassault. Joint work on the remaining six pillars of the Next-Generation Weapon System (NGWS) that included the NGF as well as Remote Carrier (RC) ‘loyal wingmen' and the air combat cloud (ACC) will continue. These remaining pillars comprise RCs, the ACC, engine/propulsion, simulation, sensors, and stealth.

For more, please see ILA 2026: European partners call time on New Generation Fighter, proceed with wider Next Generation Weapon System