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One and done? (Opinion)

7th December 2021 - 12:05 GMT | by Tim Martin in Belfast

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Europe’s two competing sixth-generation fighter programmes, FCAS and Tempest, could merge. (Photo: Tim Martin)

The future of Europe’s two sixth-generation fighter programmes seems uncertain as limits on resources suggests only one can succeed. However, while the decision remains unmade, industry continues to develop both.

The question of money has once again reared its ugly head with a rare and frank prediction from Gen Luca Goretti, Chief of Staff of the Italian Air Force, to an Italian defence committee on Europe’s two competing sixth-generation fighter programmes.

Goretti predicted the two programmes would merge as it would be ‘unthinkable’ for ‘huge financial resources’ to be poured into both the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) and Tempest.

The prediction breaks from the trend of senior figures involved in FCAS and Tempest sidestepping the issue of whether two European fighter efforts are sustainable. Even so, there are

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