German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said on Friday that it will take time to resolve the issue of developing a new fighter jet following the cancellation of a joint European next-generation aircraft program, UNN reports, citing dpa.
"We have to look very closely at who can do what with whom and how quickly, at what price, and with what level of participation from German industry,"
A decision was therefore still some way off, he said.
On Thursday, eight companies expressed their interest in assisting with the development of the new fighter jet. These include the defense division of Airbus, MTU, Hensoldt, MBDA, Autoflug, Diehl Defence, Liebherr, and Rohde and Schwarz. They are jointly operating under the name "Team Gen 6." The planned new fighter is referred to in the industry as a sixth-generation fighter.
The industry initiative emerged following the cancellation of the Franco-German FCAS fighter jet project.
Airbus top executive Michael Schöllhorn stated at the ILA that he is interested in a solution that closely aligns with military needs and avoids excessive complexity. He cited the mid-2030s to 2040 as the development timeframe. "Unlike last time, we must align political, military, and industrial interests," the Airbus manager said.