On Monday, Spain officially joined the Franco-German project on advanced sixth-generation fighter. According to the plans of EU leaders, This initiative is considered to be the key to, so that Europe can defend themselves, without relying on overseas allies in an increasingly uncertain world.
In fact, excluding the area of its priorities multipurpose fighter of the fifth generation, Europe is preparing its response to America, Russia and China in the face of the machine, whose future is still very characteristic look hazy. Dassault Aviation and Airbus to build military aircraft, which the, As expected, It will be put into operation with the 2040 of the year. The aim of the new machine, which, supposed, will relate to the sixth generation, will be gradual replacement of the French Dassault Rafale and Eurofighter German.
Spain was initially interested in taking part in the Franco-German project. 17 June, at the opening of the 53rd Air Show in Le Bourget, French Defense Minister, Germany and Spain, in the presence of the President of the Fifth Republic Emmanuel Makron, signed a tripartite agreement on cooperation, sitting in front of the plane layout.
Time of signing the contract. At the table – French Defense Minister, Germany and Spain
The prototype will be on the wing no later 2026 of the year
The prototype of the new fighter should get off the ground no later than 2026 of the year. Dassault and Airbus have already submitted a joint commercial offer the Governments of France and Germany. The French company Safran and Germany's MTU jointly develop a new fighter engine.
The European project is facing competition from UK, which last year launched its own program to create a new fighting jet, dubbed Tempest («Rain»).
Initially, France was weighing the possibility of cooperation with the United Kingdom on the project, which would combine the two largest military powers in Europe. However, July 2017 Macron year and German Chancellor Angela Merkel has announced plans to create a new combat next-generation aviation system, which will include not only a fighter, but a number of expanding its capacity systems, those associated with the UAV combat aircraft. After that, the United Kingdom was engaged in self-development perspective program.
Britain has its allies
To the British Tempest seeks to join India, which is currently out of joint with the Russian proeta FGFA, determine its position rising costs and the lack of Russian stealth machine.
Besides, gradually connected to the British project Italy, which has a developed aviation industry (aviakontserna Leonardo), and some experience working on a fifth-generation fighter, the F-35 project.
skepticism about the future of European cooperation in the field of defense, when Britain is negotiating to withdraw from the European Union. ,
In work on the Tempest involving BAE Systems, already mentioned the Italian concern "Leonardo", manufacturer Rolls-Royce engines and missile manufacturer MBDA.
Competition among Europeans, which weakens us in the confrontation with the Americans and the Chinese, just funny.
– said the French president to journalists at the air show, when he began to ask about the two programs of the new generation of fighters.
The French and German government expects to invest first 4 billion euros (4,5 billion) in its own program to 2025 year. It is assumed that Paris, as the leader of the project, will most – 2,5 billion euros. These data quoted by Reuters, referring to the French Ministry of Defense.
