Aerospace Industry Seeks Greater Control Over Fighter Cooperation Effort

In a provocative opinion piece published in Handelsblatt, leading German labor union IG Metall and aerospace industry association BDLI called for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program to be scrapped. The authors proposed establishing their own future fighter jet program and seeking partners who wish to participate. This move puts greater pressure on political decisionmakers to take concrete action or step in to solve outstanding issues. Airbus remains committed to the FCAS programme, but the comments from von Hahn and Kerner have raised concerns about the program’s prospects.