Ex Chief Executive Tom Enders Cautions Against Prestige Project
Former Airbus and EADS chief Tom Enders has publicly cautioned Germany against pursuing a national fighter program, citing excessive costs and delayed timelines. Enders argues that Berlin should prioritize uncrewed combat aircraft, as the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) faces growing political and industrial strain. He estimates development costs could exceed $400 billion, making it a potentially costly prestige project. Enders’ comments come as the FCAS program is under scrutiny, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz questioning the relevance of the New Generation Fighter subprogram. This development was first reported by AeroTime.