Sixth-generation fighter jets: the FT reports, ‘Italia is holding Germany back’. The Ministry of Defence: ‘A misleading account’
The Franco-German project for the FCAS fighter jet collapsed this summer because, after years of preparations, the two sides were unable to reach an agreement on the terms. Since then, Berlin has been looking for an alternative, and the GCAP could be a solution
Key points
Italia has never opposed Germany’s participation in the GCAP programme; on the contrary, it has supported it. This was emphasised in a press release issued by the Ministry of Defence following the report published by the Financial Times.
The sixth-generation fighter programme
The GCAP (Global Combat Air Programme) is a joint project between Italia, the United Kingdom and Japan to develop a stealth multi-role fighter of sixth generation and an operational system of systems by 2035. The new advanced combat aircraft is set to gradually replace platforms such as the Eurofighter Typhoon.
The programme was one of the issues discussed by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham during a recent meeting the two held on the sidelines of the European Political Community Summit in Dublin.
The Financial Times: Crosetto says Germany could be merely an observer country
According to the Financial Times, Italian Defence Minister Guido Crosetto is reported to have used an online meeting with his British and Japanese counterparts this week to strongly oppose the possibility of Germany being granted an equal role in this multi-billion programme. The British newspaper also reports that Crosetto suggested granting Germany observer status, as was the case with Canada. Such a solution would effectively prevent Germany from playing any role in the design or development of the aircraft. Berlin is said to have deemed this proposal unacceptable.
The Defence: ‘Misleading reconstruction’
“A completely misleading account that does not reflect the position Italia has always maintained,” replied the Ministry of Defence, which emphasised that Italia has “always expressed its full willingness to welcome Germany into the programme. Indeed, precisely to facilitate and speed up this process, Italia proposed that Germany join as an observer, as an immediate facilitator of information-sharing on the programme with a view to its subsequent full membership’. This proposal ‘was not intended to limit Germany’s future role in the programme. On the contrary: it was aimed at accelerating the conditions for its involvement as much as possible, whilst safeguarding the programme’s progress and the established timetable’, the statement concludes.
