Europe weighs options as U.S. F‑47 fighter jet debuts
The President of the United States, Donald Trump, has officially announced that the American 6th-generation aircraft, developed under the NGAD program, will be the Boeing F-47. This aircraft is set to surpass the F-35 and F-22, which currently form the backbone of the United States combat aviation in terms of firepower and technology, outclassing any other fighters worldwide. What does Europe think about this?
The American announcement raises questions about the future of European programs for developing 6th-generation fighters. Will Europeans once again accept the United States's dominance in the supply of modern fighters, as was the case with 5th-generation fighters? Or, conversely, will Donald Trump's changing policies concerning European security give added momentum to programs like GCAP and FCAS?
6th generation fighters
US Air Force Chief of Staff General David Allvin declared that the F-47 is set to become the most advanced, deadly, and adaptable fighter jet ever created—engineered to outpace, outthink, and outperform any opponent that confronts American pilots. He underlined that this project goes beyond building a new aircraft; it's about redefining the future of combat and delivering a clear warning to potential threats.
Allvin also affirmed that the F-47 marks the world’s first manned sixth-generation fighter. He explained that over the last five years, X planes have played a crucial role in its development by conducting hundreds of flight hours, testing advanced technologies, and proving that bold innovation is possible. These experimental efforts, he said, have laid the groundwork for enhancing the F-47’s capabilities. This indicates that the United States' sixth-generation fighter program is now progressing in a concrete and visible way.
Europe has its own ideas
In Europe, two advanced programs aim at developing 6th-generation fighters: the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) and the Future Combat Air System (FCAS). Both proposals are still in the development and design phase. The GCAP program was officially launched on December 9, 2022, when the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan reached an agreement to jointly develop a new 6th-generation fighter, merging earlier projects like the British Tempest and the Japanese F-X into one initiative.
According to available information, GCAP is currently in the design and technology development phase, with its first flight planned for 2028. Meanwhile, the fighter's entry into service is anticipated for 2035. Even more distant timelines pertain to the FCAS program, a joint initiative between France, Germany, and Spain aimed at creating an advanced combat system, including a 6th-generation fighter and accompanying drones.
Airbus, one of the main partners of the project, has suggested that initial prototypes may emerge in the coming years, although exact dates have not been disclosed. It is known, however, that the program is currently in the research and development phase, with the fighter expected to enter service around 2040.
In January 2025, Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury suggested the possibility of merging both programs in the future or at least ensuring their interoperability, as reported by Reuters. Such integration could optimize the financial and technological resources of the participating countries, but no decisions have been made on this matter yet.
Faury stressed the importance of governments involved in FCAS and GCAP coming together once they have a clear grasp of each program’s goals and capabilities, in order to explore potential areas for improved collaboration. He noted that such talks are expected to take place within the next few years, likely after the completion of the technology phase. Still, he acknowledged that merging the two initiatives would present significant challenges.
It is important to note that defense experts have long debated Europe's ability to fund two competing 6th-generation fighter programs simultaneously. These concerns arise partly from the fact that developing modern combat systems is extremely costly, and the defense budgets of individual countries are limited. Additionally, potential orders for new fighters may not reach levels that would justify funding two separate programs.
The situation is further complicated by the fact that Europe currently faces many other defense challenges requiring significant financial investments. An unprecedented level of investment in the European defense sector is planned. The European Union intends to allocate $872 billion over the next few years for this purpose. Many sectors, previously reliant on American security guarantees or supplies of American equipment, require strengthening.
