Airbus ready for linkup with GCAP, CEO says

PARIS – Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said Wednesday that the European plane maker could join a British-Japanese-Italian consortium to build a next-generation fighter jet after the collapse of a Franco-German rival.

Airbus represented Germany and Spain in the Franco-German scheme that failed amid disputes over the design and Faury said that the German government was now in contact with other countries over possible “partnerships.”

The Airbus CEO told a media call that joining the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) with Britain, Japan and Italy is one “potential” solution but there are also other options.

The three countries have already allotted more than $5.5 billion for the jet, aiming to have it in service by 2035. Canada has joined the program as an observer.

“We are supporting and working closely with the German and the Spanish governments on the future of the next-generation fighter,” which must be “in Europe and for Europe,” Faure said.

“Basically at Airbus we continue to believe in the need for a sixth-generation fighter in Europe as a cooperation program. And we want to be part of that solution for Europe.”

Faure said it would be for governments to decide “ideally not in the too distant future.”

Moves to build a Franco-German jet collapsed in June with Dassault Aviation, which acted for France, failing to agree to a design with Airbus and the German military. Dassault is now going it alone with the French state to build a jet to take over from the Rafale.