MUNICH — A seismic shift is taking shape inside Europe’s defence industry, as Airbus Defence and Space chief executive Michael Schoellhorn openly questioned the continent’s long-standing dependence on American fighter jets and signalled a future that could shut U.S. manufacturers out of Europe’s next-generation combat aircraft market.
In a sharply worded interview with a Swedish financial newspaper, Schoellhorn said Europe must not repeat what he described as the strategic mistake of relying heavily on the United States for fifth-generation fighters like the F-35 Lightning II. His message was direct: the sixth generation must be European-built, European-owned, and politically independent.
The comments land at a sensitive moment for transatlantic defence relations, and they immediately raised eyebrows across NATO capitals, where interoperability with U.S. systems has long been a cornerstone of collective defence.
A Break From the F-35 Playbook
For years, the F-35 has been the default solution for European air forces needing stealth capability. Dozens of European allies purchased the American jet to fill a technological gap that domestic programs could not close in time.
But Schoellhorn’s remarks suggest that chapter is closing.
He argued that Europe should not again find itself locked into foreign supply chains or constrained by U.S. export rules. While he did not explicitly criticize the aircraft itself, the implication was clear: reliance on Washington came at a strategic cost.
Inside Airbus, the push is now toward full sovereignty in next-generation combat aviation — a system that goes far beyond a single aircraft and includes drone swarms, networked sensors, and battlefield cloud architecture.
Airbus Turns Toward Saab as FCAS Fractures
At the centre of the emerging realignment is exploratory cooperation between Airbus and Sweden’s Saab, a move that could reshape Europe’s fighter jet landscape.
Saab, best known for its agile and cost-efficient Saab JAS 39 Gripen, brings proven fighter design experience and a reputation for fast, flexible production cycles. Airbus contributes industrial scale, systems integration capability, and deep access to European defence procurement networks.
Together, the two companies are now discussing a potential sixth-generation fighter platform designed entirely in Europe — a direct alternative to American offerings.
The timing is no coincidence. Europe’s flagship joint programme, the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme, is increasingly under strain.
FCAS Under Pressure
The FCAS initiative — involving France, Germany, Spain, and Belgium — was meant to secure Europe’s independence in next-generation air combat. But instead, it has become a battleground of industrial rivalry and political friction.
Dassault Aviation leads the fighter jet design, while Airbus oversees system architecture. Yet disagreements over workshare, intellectual property, and leadership have repeatedly stalled progress.
Dassault Aviation has pushed for greater control over the fighter component, while German officials have voiced frustration over what they see as uneven influence within the programme.
As delays mount, confidence in FCAS as a timely solution is weakening — and Airbus is no longer hiding its impatience.
A Strategic Alternative Emerges
Schoellhorn made it clear that Airbus is not willing to wait indefinitely. If FCAS remains gridlocked, the company is prepared to pursue a parallel path with Saab.
That alternative would not be a small-scale backup plan. It would represent a full-scale European sixth-generation programme — potentially outside the existing FCAS framework.
The implications are enormous: two competing visions for Europe’s air combat future, both vying for political backing and billions in defence spending.
Time Pressure and a 2040 Deadline
One of the strongest warnings from Airbus is about time.
To field a credible sixth-generation fighter by the 2040s, development must begin immediately. Aerospace programmes of this scale take decades, not years, to mature.
Schoellhorn warned that continued political hesitation could make Europe permanently dependent on external suppliers.
“If we are still in limbo at the end of the year, it will be very challenging,” he said, underscoring what many insiders already fear: Europe may be running out of time to act as a unified industrial power.
A Broader European Defence Awakening
The debate goes far beyond Airbus or FCAS. Across Europe, governments are reassessing reliance on U.S. military technology.
Concerns include export restrictions, software control, and the possibility that political decisions in Washington could affect operational readiness in Europe.
A fully European sixth-generation system would aim to eliminate those vulnerabilities, creating an integrated ecosystem of aircraft, sensors, and autonomous systems — all controlled within Europe.
It would also mark a symbolic break from decades of dependence on American defence exports.
Germany and Sweden at the Core
Germany is expected to play a decisive role in any future Airbus-Saab partnership. As one of Europe’s largest defence spenders, Berlin could provide the financial backbone needed to launch a new programme.
Sweden brings its long-standing fighter engineering expertise, honed through decades of designing efficient, export-friendly aircraft like the Gripen and surveillance platforms such as the Saab GlobalEye.
Spain, meanwhile, could contribute manufacturing capacity and systems integration support, rounding out a pan-European industrial consortium.
NATO and the Transatlantic Question
Despite the rhetoric of independence, officials insist this is not a rupture with the United States or NATO.
European forces will continue to operate American systems for decades, and interoperability remains essential for collective defence operations.
Still, the symbolic message is unmistakable: Europe wants control over its own high-end military technology.
The United States is simultaneously advancing its own sixth-generation programme under the Next Generation Air Dominance initiative, raising the possibility of parallel ecosystems — one American, one European.
A Defining Industrial Moment
Defence analysts say Europe is approaching a decisive crossroads. If FCAS cannot overcome its internal divisions soon, Airbus and Saab may move forward alone — effectively splitting Europe’s fighter development strategy in two.
The consequences would echo for decades, shaping everything from procurement budgets to battlefield doctrine.
Success could establish Europe as a fully independent aerospace power. Failure could push it back into long-term reliance on American aircraft.
For now, Schoellhorn’s message stands as one of the clearest signals yet: Europe’s next fighter jet era should not be imported — it should be built at home.
