Airbus eyes UK-Japan-Italy fighter jet deal after rival collapse

Airbus chief Guillaume Faury said on Wednesday that the European plane maker could join a British-Japanese-Italian consortium to build a next generation fighter jet after the collapse of a Franco-German rival. Airbus represented Germany and Spain in the Franco-German scheme, which failed amid disputes over the design, and Faury said that the German government was now in contact with other countries over possible partnerships. The Airbus CEO told a media call that joining the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) with Britain, Japan and Italy was a "potential" solution, but there were others. The three countries have already allocated more than $5.5 billion (€4.7bn) for the jet, aiming to have it in service by 2035. Canada has joined the programme as an observer. "We are supporting and working closely with the German and the Spanish governments on the future of the next generation fighter", which must be "in Europe and for Europe", Faury said. "Basically, at Airbus, we continue to believe in the need for a sixth-generation fighter in Europe as a cooperation programme. And we want to be part of that solution for Europe." Faury said it would be for governments to decide, "ideally not in the too distant future". Moves to build a Franco-German jet collapsed in June, with Dassault Aviation, which represented France, failing to agree on a design with Airbus and the German military. Dassault is now going it alone with the French state to build a jet to replace the Rafale.