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Former Airbus CEO Warns Germany Against National Fighter Program

February 23, 2026

2 min read

Key Takeaways

Former Airbus CEO Tom Enders warns Germany against a national fighter program.
Enders argues the project would be too costly and arrive too late.
He suggests prioritizing uncrewed combat aircraft instead.
Development costs could exceed $400 billion.

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Strategic Implications

This warning may signal a shift in industry perspectives on national fighter programs. Enders' comments could indicate that established defense contractors are reevaluating their priorities, suggesting a potential move towards uncrewed combat aircraft, which may benefit companies like Saab and Dassault Aviation.

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What Happened

Ex Chief Executive Tom Enders Cautions Against Prestige Project

Former Airbus and EADS chief Tom Enders has publicly cautioned Germany against pursuing a national fighter program, citing excessive costs and delayed timelines. Enders argues that Berlin should prioritize uncrewed combat aircraft, as the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) faces growing political and industrial strain. He estimates development costs could exceed $400 billion, making it a potentially costly prestige project. Enders’ comments come as the FCAS program is under scrutiny, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz questioning the relevance of the New Generation Fighter subprogram. This development was first reported by AeroTime.

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