While developing its much-awaited fifth-generation aircraft, AMCA, India is also considering joining one of two European sixth-generation fighter programs.
The Indian Ministry of Defence (MoD) has informed the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence of its interest in two active sixth-generation fighter jet consortia: the Global Combat Aircraft Program (GCAP) led by the United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan; and the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) led by France, Germany, and Spain.
The document states that the Indian Air Force (IAF) will “seek to join one of them” to ensure it does not fall behind in advancing next-generation, cutting-edge technologies.
The move comes amid a glaring capability gap vis-à-vis the Chinese People’s Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF), which leads the IAF not only in the number of fighter jets in its inventory, but also in technological superiority.
China has two operational fifth-generation stealth fighters (J-20 and J-35A) and, according to projections, will have about 1,000 J-20s by the time India inducts its first AMCA.
The situation could become more precarious for India, given that Pakistan is believed to be in talks to acquire dozens of J-35A stealth fighters from Beijing.
In addition, China has been testing two different sixth-generation prototypes: the J-36, produced by Chengdu Aircraft Corporation (CAC), and the J-50, produced by Shenyang Aircraft Corporation (SAC). Both prototypes are regularly spotted flying, suggesting that development is taking place at a breakneck pace.
Sixth-generation fighter programs typically integrate multi-spectral stealth, combat networking, manned-unmanned teaming (M-UMT) or loyal wingman flying with a manned fighter, integration of hypersonic missiles, directed energy weapons (DEWs), an integrated sensor suite, and cyber-security resilience. They follow a systems-of-systems approach and represent an incremental leap over existing fifth-generation technology.
This means that when India achieves its fifth-generation milestone with AMCA, China would likely be producing and operating the next-generation fighters, further widening the capability gap.
Several military experts and veterans who have spoken to the EurAsian Times in the past couple of years have said: buy Rafales to manage squadron strength and bolster numbers, develop the fifth-generation AMCA for long-term capability, buy off-the-shelf Su-57 fifth-generation fighters to bridge the current stealth gap with China, and join a sixth-generation fighter program to stay ahead of the curve.
The IAF has followed through on the strategy so far. It has decided to acquire 114 Rafale 4.5th-generation multi-role fighters and is advancing work on the AMCA while refusing to rule out a potential acquisition of the Su-57.
GCAP Vs FCAS Fighter Programs
Both GCAP, led by the UK-Japan-Italy consortia, and the FCAS, led by France-Germany-Spain, represent “system of systems” approaches, featuring a crewed next-generation fighter, loyal-wingman drones, advanced artificial intelligence (AI), combat cloud networking, enhanced stealth features, sensor fusion, directed energy, and the next generation of weapons.
Launched in 2022, the GCAP is a merger between the British Tempest and the Japanese F-X program. It aims to design, manufacture, and deliver a next-generation combat aircraft.
All three partners ratified the GCAP treaty in 2023, which formally established the GCAP International Government Organisation (GIGO). The organisation was tasked with developing the next-generation fighter jet, establishing capability requirements, and overseeing the program’s industrial framework, and represented a major leap in the trilateral fighter program.
Notably, the GCAP program is led by industry partners including BAE Systems of the United Kingdom, Leonardo of Italy, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries of Japan. In June 2025, the industrial joint venture was officially named Edgewing and launched as the central design authority responsible for the aircraft’s full development, production, and delivery.
Later that year, Rolls-Royce (UK), Avio Aero (Italy), and IHI (Japan) expanded their consortium agreement for the fighter’s engine, enabling direct collaboration with Edgewing, transitioning to integrated international work, and successful testing of advanced combustor technologies.
The GCAP has set a very ambitious target: to fly its first demonstrator by 2027 and field the aircraft by 2035. The GCAP aims to replace the Eurofighter Typhoon in the British and Italian Air Forces, and the F-2 in the Japanese Self-Defence Air Force, with a modular, long-range, multi-role design suited to the operational needs of both the Atlantic and the North Sea/Mediterranean, as well as that of the expansive Indo-Pacific region.
While the program has surged ahead of its peers, financial constraints and contractual delays threaten to push the 2035 rollout target by a few years. Originally, Edgewing was supposed to receive its first design work contract by the end of 2025, but the British Defence Investment Plan, which was supposed to provide the required cash, has delayed the contract’s delivery.
The plan was reportedly due last fall, but it has been postponed amid high-level initiatives to address the United Kingdom’s fiscal deficits.
There also seems to be a blip, as Italy had earlier alleged that Britain was reluctant to share technology with its partners. However, the Italian Parliament backed an almost $10.7 billion funding plan for GCAP last month, reaffirming its commitment to the program.
Meanwhile, Japan is working to accelerate the program, and its legislature, the National Diet, is expected to approve allocations for the jets this month.
The Future Combat Air System (FCAS), on the other hand, is led by European heavyweights like France, Germany, and Spain. It is a ‘system of systems’ program that includes a next-generation fighter (NGF), adjunct aircraft, and a combat cloud—a multi-domain capable, data-rich network enabling cross-platform information sharing. It is Europe’s €100 billion project to develop next-generation air power by 2040.
The program is primarily led by Airbus, representing Germany and Spain, and Dassault Aviation, representing France.
Within the broader FCAS initiative, Dassault is responsible for the crewed NGF, while Airbus is responsible for the “loyal wingman” remote-carrier drone design, new cloud capabilities, and stealth technologies. Meanwhile, Spain-based Indra is working on the sensor systems, while Safran is developing a new jet engine for the fighter.
The FCAS has been delayed by several years and is now on the verge of collapse due to an irresolvable impasse between Airbus and Dassault over a range of issues, including work-sharing, control of the aircraft’s design, and supplier selection.
The gridlock has mainly been attributed to Dassault’s reluctance to share the NGF workload with its counterparts. Eric Trappier, CEO of Dassault, stated in an interview last year that a partnership centred on sharing work might result in a less-than-ideal technological solution, suggesting that Dassault has decades of experience and the know-how to build entire fighter jets with little to no outside help. However, Germany, represented by Airbus, has refused to allow Dassault to secure the larger share, which would benefit the French contractor and leave German industry with very little.
The sustained differences have stalled key phases, including negotiations for the demonstrator and advancement of the critical technology demonstrator Phase 2, with experts describing the program as being in a “fatal tailspin.”
In fact, Germany had earlier indicated it would seek new partners.
In late January 2026, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that the FCAS collaboration was certain to produce combined defence systems, although it was unclear if the French-German-Spanish FCAS warplane initiative would result in collaborative aircraft.
“There will definitely be joint systems,” Merz said. “We are currently in intensive talks with France about the extent to which we will continue to develop and build joint aircraft, and I expect that we will reach a joint decision on this within the next few weeks.”
Following these comments, Airbus publicly suggested that France and Germany could pursue separate fighter designs under a shared FCAS architecture to avoid the entire program collapsing. “If mandated by our customers, we would support a two-fighter solution and are committed to playing a leading role in such a reorganised FCAS delivered through European cooperation,” Airbus’ chief executive, Guillaume Faury, said at the company’s annual results announcement.
If that happens, the next-generation fighter grouping would produce everything except fighter jets.
According to new reports, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron were to discuss the crisis-hit FCAS fighter program on the sidelines of an EU summit on March 18, 2026. However, there is no update on such a meeting yet.
As the program hangs in the balance, timelines are slipping toward a potential 2040 entry into service, or later, if the program survives at all.
Options for India
Against that backdrop, India could choose to pursue the GCAP, especially since it has close ties with Japan, the UK, and Italy.
For GCAP, adding India as a partner would bring substantial funding, help spread development costs across four nations rather than three.
It will help reduce per-country financial pressure, accelerate the program, and mitigate the risks posed by budget constraints. Moreover, the program will benefit from India’s vast production infrastructure, a growing aerospace ecosystem, and the ability to scale up manufacturing at lower costs.
Last year, Japan approached India to participate in the next-generation Global Combat Air Program (GCAP). In February 2025, Japanese officials visited India, briefed Indian officials on the program’s characteristics, and proposed their participation.
Tokyo, for one, has been looking to expand the program’s partnership to include new partners. However, Italy and the UK have shown little enthusiasm for opening up the program.
According to media reports, initial talks on India’s entry into the FCAS grouping began in 2017.
While the FCAS is currently in its early stages, it is a European fighter program that will eventually replace the French Rafales, which the IAF also operates. The integration of technology may, in fact, be smoother and easier for India, especially since it is also exploring a partnership with Safran to co-develop the AMCA power plant.
IAF veteran and military commentator Air Marshal Chopra told the EurAsian Times: “Yes, India should consider joining the FCAS, but it will all depend on the work share. The FCAS partners have already had work share issues with France, which has been trying to dominate.”
India’s deepening defense ties with France could mature into a game-changing partnership with the FCAS deal. The Rafale deal, including the projected deal for 114 jets, confirmed India’s deep trust in French technology. Joining FCAS would dramatically elevate this alliance.
The Indian-French defense relationship dates back decades, to when the IAF acquired its first French fighter jet, the Toofani, in the 1950s. Over the years, India has signed several big-ticket deals with France, from the Mystère IVA to the Mirage-2000 to the Rafale jets, including the Rafale-Ms for the Indian Navy.
Whether FCAS will continue the French dominance in the Indian Air Force remains to be seen.
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