Europe. Top defense leaders kick off new phase for Europe’s next-gen fighter (Sebastian Sprenger, Defense News)

Visitors attend the unveiling ceremony of the full-scale jet fighter model of the French-German-Spanish new-generation Future Combat Air System during the 2019 Paris Air Show. (Eric Piermont/AFP via Getty Images)

Top defense leaders from France, Germany and Spain have formalized plans to begin the preliminary development phase for a lead plane under the Future Combat Air System program, committing their governments to spending billions of euros in the coming years.

The trilateral agreement, signed in Paris on Aug. 30, follows Germany’s parliamentary approval in June to invest nearly €4.5 billion (U.S. $5.3 billion) in the program through 2027. The other nations are expected to contribute similar amounts, though it’s unclear if France and Spain will finance separate, national industry programs — as planned by Berlin to the tune of €750 million — on FCAS-related technologies.

Top defense leaders kick off new phase for Europe’s next-gen fighter (defensenews.com)