Belgian Defense Minister: Development of EU's sixth-generation fighter jet is progressing poorly

The development of the EU's sixth-generation fighter jet, part of the SKAF project, is progressing poorly. It is hampered by a lack of understanding between the participants from France, Germany, and Spain.

The head of the Belgian Ministry of Defense, Theo Francken, made this statement in an interview with journalists from the Belgian newspaper Sour.

The official believes that ultimately each of the three countries participating in the program will begin to independently develop its own program in the field of combat aviation, although now more than ever Europeans need to unite to form a common European defense industry complex.

In his opinion, the inability of different countries and defense companies to reach an agreement demonstrates the impossibility of creating a pan-European defense-industrial complex in the EU.

Francken cited his strategic plan for the country's defense development for the period 2025 to 2034, in which he advocated active Belgian participation in the European fighter jet program, rather than merely an observer role. However, the official is currently skeptical about the project.

At the moment I don't feel like the program is a big success.

- Franken noted.

The project is not dead, but statements from both sides in recent weeks do not bode well.

- the minister added.

The acronym SKAF stands for "System of Future Air Combat." It is a project to develop a sixth-generation fighter aircraft, involving France, Spain, and Germany, scheduled for completion around 2040.

Comments

[Nexcom]

...and it's very good that EU transmissions are not doing this well.
pass it on and continue like this.

If only a couple more defense factories had exploded like the Americans, it would have been fantastic - the week would have ended really well.

[NIKN]

They won't have a 6th generation, they collected money under the pretext of development and sent it to Ukraine (well, partially, not forgetting the pockets of the organizers of the scam called SKAF).
If the EU doesn't fall apart sooner, they'll assemble five more times.

[Nexcom]

...yeah, and then the kakels will use that money to cobble together another flamingo on door hinges and Chinese household components...
"High-precision" cameras based on a door peephole – I remember...

[Brturin]

Quote: NIKNN

If the EU doesn't collapse first

The EU... Belgium itself wouldn't have fallen apart in two, and didn't the country's defense development plan include sending an army into Brussels to restore order?

[Sky strike fighter]

The development of the EU's sixth-generation fighter jet under the SKAF project is progressing poorly. It is hampered by a lack of understanding between the participants from France, Germany, and Spain. ... The official believes that ultimately, each of the three countries participating in the program will begin developing its own combat aviation program independently, although now, more than ever, Europeans need to unite to form a common European defense industry.

To be fair, it should be noted that of all the countries listed above, only France has a chance of independently developing a fifth- or even sixth-generation fighter, as the Europeans desire. It developed the Rafale, a fourth-generation fighter, independently. Although Spain and Germany participated in the development of the fourth-generation Eurofighter Typhoon, their contributions were limited to their strictly assigned roles. The Typhoon was developed and manufactured by Eurofighter GmbH, a consortium formed by Alenia Aeronautica, EADSM, and BAE Systems in 1986. Development of the advanced aircraft began in 1979.

The consortium members are engaged in the production of the following components of the multirole fighter:
AleniaAeronautica - rear fuselage section, external flaperones, left wing;
BAE Systems - the rear section of the fuselage, the front part of the fuselage (including PGO), gargrot, flashlight, tail stabilizer, internal flaperons;
EADS Deutschland - center section, the central part of the fuselage;
EADS CASA - slats, right wing.

http://oruzhie.info/voennye-samolety/52-eurofighter-typhoon-ef2000

That is, Germany, represented by EADS Deutschland, has experience building the center section and the central fuselage section. Spain, represented by EADS CASA, has experience producing the slats and the right wing. Development of the Eurojet EJ 200 turbofan engines was entrusted to the British company Rolls-Royce, as its prototype and development formed the basis for this engine. But everyone writes that the engine is international, since each country produces individual components rather than the entire engine. For example, Germany and its company MTU have a share of about 30% of the production program. It produces high- and low-pressure compressor components, as well as control systems for all engines. So, it's not a given that Germany or Spain will be able to develop and build a next-generation fighter from scratch. There are serious gaps in their competence for the fourth-generation fighter. Their experience is very specific. And here they will have to develop and manufacture everything themselves. Only France has been able to independently master the fourth-generation Rafale fighter.

[Sky strike fighter]

As a result, Germany decided to make a long-term commitment to fourth-generation fighters and order the Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 5. Deliveries are scheduled for the same time as the Franco-German-Spanish sixth-generation FCAS fighter was supposed to begin deliveries.

The Bundestag's Budget Committee approved the largest defense contract in recent years—the delivery of 20 new Eurofighter Typhoon Tranche 5 fighter jets worth €3,75 billion (approximately $4,36 billion), according to Breaking Defense. These aircraft will be a key element of Germany's combat aviation modernization and the replacement for the aging Tornado fighter fleet, complementing the existing Typhoon Tranche 3/4 variants. Based on the contract value, each Tranche 5 fighter is priced at $218 million. According to the German Ministry of Defense, the new Tranche 5 fighters will be equipped with active electronically scanned array (E-scan) radars, which will improve target detection and tracking. Deliveries of the new aircraft are scheduled for 2031 to 2034.

https://amalantra.ru/germaniya-utverdila-zakupku-novykh-eurofighter-typhoon-tranche-5/

The Franco-German-Spanish project, launched in 2017, is led by France, although formally the participants' shares and voting rights were equal. However, according to media reports, Paris intends to strengthen its position by seeking up to 80% participation in the project. The French side denies such plans, but the logic of this approach is obvious: according to the 2019 Treaty of Aachen and related agreements, a country with a participation of more than 20% can block arms exports if its national interests or security are threatened. This clause is interpreted quite broadly and gives France significant leverage.

https://inosmi.ru/20250818/geopolitika-274252067.html

[solar]

Germany has decided to make a long-term commitment to fourth-generation fighter jets.

Germany has decided to purchase the F-35.

[Sky strike fighter]

Well, the Germans are also buying F-35s. But they are of such quality that they won't fly for long. They're mostly in repairs.

[Gorynych1]

Good evening. The cock plane isn't flying at all.

[Anthony]

I believe the US could develop something that could even remotely be called sixth generation—well, really remotely—by, say, 2040, meaning when the first real aircraft reach combat readiness. Other countries, including the EU, will be much, much later. I'm not talking about a pretty, ultra-modern design, but a true sixth generation.

[Magog_]

what can even remotely be called the 6th generation

Not long ago, there was a formulation about what the 5th generation should be. As a result, everything that was created was labeled as such. The Americans, it seems, won't bring their unfinished F-35 up to the required standard. And why should they? So the aircraft is sold to customers block by block, and those who refuse are "cut off the gas." In my opinion, only Russia is trying to achieve all the previously stated 5th-generation performance characteristics with its Su-57. The 6th generation will be even worse: those countries that create something flying and combat-ready by 2035-40 (whatever they can get their hands on) will be the 6th generation...

[solar]

In the recent past, there was a formulation of what should be in the 5th generation.

That was in the distant past. In the recent past, with the advent of all-aspect missiles and ramjet-powered missiles, the requirements changed.

[Magog_]

the requirements have changed

Got it. What you're getting at is that supermaneuverability and supersonic speed without afterburners are no longer needed. Well, then there aren't any new challenges to improving aircraft flight dynamics. Stealth only comes at the expense of aerodynamics, and other electronics (with or without AI) completely call into question the availability of qualified flight crews. UAVs are essentially everything to us... Boring, girls!

[Alex_12]

What's causing you so much trouble? Just upgrade to the 7th generation.

At the moment I don't feel like the program is a big success.

maybe my gut feeling will tell me that more can be sawed off.

[Nexcom]

I think it will all end up like this: they'll spend the money, not much will come of it, and then Donya will come and say, "We've spoiled you, so what?" Everyone buys F35.
Well, if I get lucky, I'll sell the F41.

[TermNachTer]

This is not the first time and will not be the last, if the EU survives as such))) there have already been common tanks, planes and ships)))

[Prisoner]

Is Sho so weak? Let's start with the 8th generation.

[rocket757]

If you suffer for a long time, there is no guarantee that everything will work out!

[lukash66]

What, they already have their own fifth? How about we take on our William Shakespeare? (c) Chatterboxes.

[lukash66]

They've slapped so many downvotes on you all, you must be some kind of gay European.😀😀 I've corrected your statistics.😎😎

[Kmet]

They're wasting their time: "When comrades don't agree, their business won't go well," I.A. Krylov... And now each of these "comrades" is desperately trying to figure out who will be the lead manufacturer and who will reap all the profits from the project. They won't ultimately agree—no matter how much they boast, something will probably be done eventually. However, it seems that military combat aviation is also in for a profound modernization, taking into account new experience with using small aircraft for tactical purposes. It's like with aircraft carriers: while they were building a huge, powerful ship, the concept became seriously outdated and extremely vulnerable to countermeasures that were much cheaper...

[snow mountain]

There won't be any sixth generation for them. The Americans won't allow it.

[kulemin0025gmail.com]

And where does Belgium fit into this?🧐

[multi-category]

Belgium is to France what Ukraine is to Russia.

[multi-category]

Considering the French's greed, I don't even understand how anyone could collaborate with them on developing weapons. And it's strange that there aren't any Swedes, Czechs, or Italians among the participants.