July 28, 2026
In June, following the announcement that the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project—led by France, Germany, and Spain—was ending, Airbus Defence & Space took the lead of a consortium named "Team Gen 6" to develop a German-designed next-generation combat aircraft. However, a major unknown remains: what will power it?
This question did not arise for the FCAS, as France’s Safran Aircraft Engines had been designated to develop the engine for the New Generation Fighter (NGF)—a project Dassault Aviation and Airbus were tasked with developing—with Germany’s MTU as the primary partner. To smooth the process [and satisfy the Bundestag], the two industrial players established a joint venture, EUMET, incorporated under German law.
Entrusting the prime contractorship for the NGF engine to Safran Aircraft Engines was indisputable, given the company's experience [with the Rafale’s M88 engine] and the studies commissioned by the French Defense Procurement Agency (DGA) under the Turenne 1, Turenne 2, and ADAMANT programs.
Furthermore, to pave the way for the NGF engine, Safran Aircraft Engines is currently working on the M88 T-REX engine, intended for the Rafale upgraded to the F5 standard, which will require increased power. "With the T-REX, the goal is to increase thrust from 7.5 to 9.5 tonnes […] while maintaining the Rafale’s performance levels in its heaviest configurations and without compromising its operational range. So, it is a challenge," explained Emmanuel Chiva—then head of the French defense procurement agency (DGA)—during a parliamentary hearing.
That said, France is expected to launch its own next-generation combat aircraft program—either independently or as part of a new cooperative venture.
In fact, Dassault Aviation CEO Éric Trappier advocates for the immediate development of a demonstrator "to test trade-offs before finalizing the operational system." A maiden flight could take place in 2031–32, using M-88 engines or even the M-88 T-REX. "We need to take the plunge now to avoid being at the mercy of American developments and to preserve industrial expertise. […] There is a time for hesitation and a time for decision," he insisted last week.
In any case, a French next-generation combat aircraft project would require the support of Safran Aircraft Engines.
However, on July 28, Safran Group CEO Olivier Andriès issued a warning: it is impossible to chase two hares at once. "We only have the resources to develop one combat aircraft engine
*. And we will obviously prioritize the French roadmap," he said, according to AFP reports.
"Will the specifications [for the engine] remain the same on the French and German sides? […] That remains an open question. [But] we will not have the engineering resources to produce two different engines," he emphasized, noting that funding linked to the FCAS (Future Combat Air System) program is set to cease in September. That said, the CEO of Dassault Aviation has likely already answered the question raised by Mr. Andriès regarding German intentions.
"The T-Rex […] paves the way for an engine with 9 tonnes of thrust, with the ultimate goal being an even more powerful engine for a future 6th-generation combat aircraft. That was one of the topics we had put on the table for the future combat aircraft. There was a desire on the part of some to build a very large combat aircraft. If you build a very large combat aircraft, you need an engine with much higher thrust—even if you use two of them. In a way, that raised the bar even higher for Safran," Mr. Trappier had indeed explained to senators during a hearing on the future of combat aviation on July 1st. He then drove the point home: "The engine is therefore fundamental: it is what gives us our independence and sovereignty. »
/END
* that is partly inaccurate, since Safran also plans to develop—in parallel and in cooperation with India—the engine for India’s future combat aircraft, the AMCA.
timesofindia.indiatimes.com
