"We are open to a number of things. For Airbus, the crewed fighter aircraft is still an open question," said Michael Schoellhorn, signaling a possible shift in Europe’s struggling sixth-generation fighter plans.
Michael Schoellhorn puts Saab and Sweden on the table
Speaking on the sidelines of the Airbus Defense Summit at Airbus Defense & Space’s Manching site near Munich, Airbus Defense and Space CEO Michael Schoellhorn said Airbus is “keen to cooperate with Sweden and Saab on a new fighter.” Schoellhorn told Swedish paper Dagens Industri that Airbus has held “productive but confidential” talks with both the Swedish and German governments and described Sweden and Saab as “candidates with extensive expertise” in fighter design and production.
He reiterated that Airbus “will be involved in the development of a sixth-generation fighter aircraft,” and framed the outreach to Saab as part of a broader effort to avoid reliance on U.S. offerings: “I do not want to see sixth-generation fighter aircraft bought from the United States, as Europe did with the fifth generation.”
FCAS strain: why Airbus is exploring alternatives
The pan‑European Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme — which includes a crewed New Generation Fighter (NGF) — is described in the reporting as “mired in difficulty.” Tensions between the two leading partners, France and Germany, have been evident, with German defense officials reportedly frustrated by what they see as disproportionate French demands for control and workshare. Reports say Germany has been exploring alternative paths, including the possibility of separating itself from France within the programme.
On the French side, Dassault Aviation chief executive Éric Trappier is reported to have declared the FCAS project dead if Airbus refuses to cooperate, while French President Emmanuel Macron has worked to resuscitate the programme. Those pressures form the context for Airbus’s outreach to Sweden and Saab.
Alternatives: two fighters, GCAP, or a restructured FCAS
Schoellhorn floated structural alternatives for FCAS: “The structure within FCAS could be improved. That could lead to two fighter aircraft within FCAS, or to another form of cooperation.” He also refused to rule out folding in the British-led Global Combat Air Program (GCAP), saying “GCAP is an existing alternative that could be considered.” GCAP — centered on the Tempest fighter — currently involves the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan, and Sweden previously had a limited role in GCAP before stepping away.
Asked whether Airbus’s overtures were intended to put pressure on Dassault, Schoellhorn pointed to “many” past cooperations with Saab and insisted the company was serious: “We want to build sixth-generation fighter aircraft as soon as possible.”
CCA, drones, and AEW&C: parallel competitions shaping procurement
While political and industrial disputes complicate crewed sixth‑gen plans, the source reports that Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) and uncrewed systems have advanced rapidly. Schoellhorn said “Everyone has seen the need for CCA. There is a European race underway to find the model for CCA in various European countries.” The report notes Airbus and Kratos are pitching the XQ-58A to Germany, Airbus is developing its own Wingman concept, and Boeing Australia has teamed with Rheinmetall to offer the MQ-28 Ghost Bat to the German military.
Sweden is also advancing conceptual studies for future fighter systems, including Saab work on an F‑series supersonic uncrewed platform weighing more than five tons, and studies that could lead to a mixed crewed/uncrewed “combat air ecosystem.”
Separately, Schoellhorn suggested Airbus and Saab could cooperate on airborne early warning and control (AEW&C). France has chosen Saab’s GlobalEye to replace its E-3F Sentry fleet, and the story reports that Canada announced plans on May 27, 2026, to enter detailed discussions and formal negotiations with Saab as the preferred supplier of Canada’s future AEW&C — choosing GlobalEye over the Boeing E-7 Wedgetail, which the report says has suffered delays and cost overruns. NATO’s procurement decision on its future AEW&C platform is also said to be under review.
What this means for Dassault, Germany, and Saab/Sweden
- Dassault Aviation: With CEO Éric Trappier reported to have said FCAS is dead if Airbus refuses to cooperate, Dassault is positioned as a force pushing for Airbus engagement — and therefore sensitive to any move that alters program structure or partners.
- German defense officials and government: Reported frustration over French control and workshare has driven Germany to explore alternate paths; Airbus says it has held “productive but confidential” talks with the German government, indicating Berlin is an active participant in the re-evaluation.
- Saab and Sweden: Described by Schoellhorn as “candidates with extensive expertise,” Saab brings both fighter design work and a recent string of AEW&C wins — France’s selection and Canada’s preferred-supplier announcement — which could make Sweden a practical partner for both crewed and uncrewed European efforts.
Europe’s future fighter landscape, the source concludes with Schoellhorn’s urgency: “We must act now... If we are still in limbo at the end of the year, that would be very challenging.” The combination of political friction, competing multinational programmes, and parallel advances in CCAs and AEW&C means decisions this year could reshape who builds Europe’s next crewed and uncrewed combat aircraft.
