India has indicated to France that it is open to exploring participation in the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), the sixth-generation fighter program launched in 2017 by France, Germany and Spain, according to a report by Indian outlet The Print.
The program, valued at around €100 billion, has entered a period of uncertainty as industrial tensions grow between Dassault Aviation and Airbus over leadership and division of work. Spain is represented in the project by Indra Sistemas, alongside Airbus and Dassault as the main industrial pillars.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently questioned whether the current structure of the program remains viable, describing the dispute as technical rather than political. Airbus Chief Executive Guillaume Faury has publicly suggested a “two-fighter solution,” under which France and Germany/Spain could pursue separate aircraft designs linked by a shared combat cloud and unmanned systems architecture.
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France requires a fighter capable of carrying nuclear weapons and operating from aircraft carriers, reflecting the needs of its air force and navy. Germany does not share those operational requirements, adding complexity to the program’s alignment.
According to The Print, Indian officials have conveyed to Paris that New Delhi would consider entering the FCAS framework if the existing trilateral arrangement weakens. India is developing its own fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), but participation in FCAS could provide access to technologies associated with sixth-generation concepts, including manned-unmanned teaming and networked combat systems.
India previously partnered with Russia on the Fifth Generation Fighter Aircraft (FGFA), derived from the Su-57, but withdrew in 2018 over workshare and capability concerns. In recent years, however, New Delhi has resumed discussions with Moscow about potential cooperation involving the Su-57 platform.
At the same time, India has deepened its ties with France. The Indian Air Force has approved the acquisition of 114 additional Rafale fighters from Dassault Aviation. Parts of the Rafale are already produced in India as part of industrial cooperation agreements linked to earlier contracts.
India’s air force has operated Dassault-built fighters for decades, and French combat aircraft have remained a constant presence in its inventory since the mid-20th century.
