The Ministry of Industry and Tourism of Spain announced the granting of 350 million euros in loans to Indra and its temporary joint venture (UTE) with Airbus to advance the development of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) and the New Generation Weapon System (NGWS). The measure, published in the Official State Gazette (BOE), seeks to strengthen Spanish participation in the trinational program together with France and Germany.
Of the total, Indra will receive 270 million euros allocated to the national technological contract of the NGWS, aimed at maturing and structuring key capabilities in areas of interest and skills necessary for the integration of the future air combat system. The UTE between Indra and Airbus will have another 80 million for the national phase of the FCAS, focused on collaborative combat studies, its implementation, and demonstrations of its capabilities.
The disbursement will be carried out in several annual installments: in 2025, 278 million euros will be delivered —214 million for the NGWS and 64 million for the national FCAS—, while between 2026 and 2029, 18 million euros will be paid per year, of which 14 will be allocated to the NGWS and 4 to the FCAS.
The Government considers the NGWS a “critical” program to equip the Armed Forces with a state-of-the-art air combat system. According to the royal decree published in the BOE, its development will contribute to strengthening “national technological, operational and strategic sovereignty” and will promote interoperability with NATO allies. The national FCAS subprogram is also seen as “key” to boosting the growth of the Spanish technological and industrial sector.
The FCAS, conceived to replace the French Rafale and the European Eurofighter Typhoon fighters from 2040 onwards, is currently facing one of the greatest crises since its creation in 2017. Differences between France and Germany over industrial distribution have strained negotiations. Dassault Aviation demands greater decision-making power in the development of the New Generation Fighter (NGF) and maintains that the current management structure could cause delays.
“If we fail to reach an agreement on the FCAS, there is no cause for concern, France has already built, knows how to build and will build a fighter on its own. ‘Alone’ does not mean only in France, we could involve a European ecosystem of subcontractors,” declared a French official who requested anonymity. The planned entry into service date of the aircraft —2040— was described as “non-negotiable.”
Another point of friction is the design of the future fighter. France proposes a 15-ton aircraft to operate from aircraft carriers, while Germany prefers an 18-ton one focused on air superiority. According to French officials, a heavier model would require a more powerful engine, which could delay the program.
In August, the Spanish Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, urged the three countries to maintain close collaboration. For his part, the German Minister of Defense, Boris Pistorius, proposed holding a meeting in Berlin to define the course of the project, whose cost is estimated at around 100 billion euros.
Spain, which joined the FCAS in 2019 and supports Germany’s positions, considers the program fundamental for the future of its combat aviation. Madrid ruled out the acquisition of fifth-generation F-35 fighters and relies on the success of the FCAS to guarantee its air capabilities in the coming decades.
The defense ministers of France, Germany, and Spain are expected to meet in October to try to redirect the project, while French President Emmanuel Macron prepares an official visit to Germany in the same period. The outcome of these negotiations will be decisive for the progress of the FCAS and the industrial and strategic balance of European air defense.
*Images for illustrative purposes
You may also like: The race for the domination of the skies: the state of development of sixth-generation fighters in the U.S., China, Russia, and Europe
