Germany is considering several options for its future combat aircraft fleet, including purchasing additional F-35 fighter jets, joining an existing international program or developing a new aircraft under German leadership, Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said.

The review follows the collapse of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a joint project launched by Germany and France in 2017 and later joined by Spain to develop a next-generation fighter aircraft and broader air combat system.

Pistorius said the end of the project was not unexpected, pointing to long-standing disputes among the companies involved. He stressed that the project's failure should not be seen as a sign of tensions between Berlin and Paris.

Germany has been holding discussions for months with various stakeholders as it evaluates the next steps for its future air combat capabilities, he said.

Speaking after talks with Czech Defence Minister Jaromir Zuna, Pistorius outlined three main options currently under consideration: ordering additional F-35 aircraft, joining another multinational fighter jet program, or pursuing a domestically led project with Airbus and other industrial partners.

The collapse of FCAS has forced Germany to reassess its long-term military aviation strategy at a time when European countries are increasing defence spending and modernising their armed forces in response to a changing security environment.

FCAS had been regarded as one of Europe's most ambitious defence projects, designed to replace Germany's Eurofighter and France's Rafale fighter fleets in the coming decades.

However, disagreements over industrial leadership, work-sharing arrangements and intellectual property rights hampered progress for years before the project was ultimately abandoned.

Germany's decision on a successor program is expected to play a significant role in shaping the future of European defence cooperation and the continent's combat aviation industry. (ILKHA)