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Airbus leans toward Saab while Franco-German fighters unravel

Airbus has been looking at Saab, a Swedish company as its preferred future partner. This is because the failure of the Franco-German fighter program has reshaped European defense alliances.

Airbus, the company that represents Germany and Spain on the 'fighter market', has other options besides collaborating with the manufacturer of Gripen combat aircraft. High-level contacts have been made on a separate project that involves Britain, Italy and Japan.

Airbus and Saab are in exploratory discussions with each other since at least six months, boosted by the improved defence relations between Germany, Sweden and Germany, according to sources.

Saab stated that any collaboration would be a decision made by a politician. A spokesperson stated that Saab has an "open-door" policy and is open to collaboration with various players in the defence industry.

Airbus had no immediate comment.

Sources said that until now, the talks were largely conceptual in order to avoid a premature breakdown of the FCAS Fighter project.

The upcoming divorce between Airbus and Dassault Aviation, which is expected to become official at the Berlin Airshow, could give Airbus more freedom to pursue a Nordic Partnership.

Michael Schoellhorn, CEO of Airbus Defence and?Space in Berlin, confirmed that Saab is a potential partner but added that it was still too early to exclude other options.

There are many potential partners. Saab. Saab.

Leonardo has opened the door for Airbus, and its paymaster Germany, to join the separate GCAP project, between Britain, Italy, and Japan.

Lorenzo Mariani, CEO of Lorenzo Mariani said that Berlin was a "particularly valuable partner".

Analysts claim that the collapse of FCAS, after nine years, is a blow for European defence co-operation. The decisions made about what happens next will have a lasting impact on European air power.

Douglas Barrie is a senior fellow at IISS for military aerospace. He said, "It shows how difficult it is to align the military, industrial and political priorities."

POTENTIAL HURDS

Sweden remained independent in the last round of fighter aircraft development. It built the Gripen, while France developed the Rafale, and Britain, Germany Spain and Italy jointly developed the Eurofighter.

It has not yet revealed its plans for the next generation. Initially, it partnered with Britain, and is now conducting research into a Gripen replacement, with decisions expected in 2030.

According to people familiar with the situation, Sweden is willing and has the technology necessary to work with Airbus.

Since months, the two sides have been gaining ground.

When visiting Germany in September last year, Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson stated that industrial cooperation was "blossoming".

Saab and Airbus began discussing collaboration on unmanned technologies in?December.

Sources said that although the talks were primarily focused on the support of existing crewed aircraft such as Eurofighter and Gripen, they could be a springboard to deeper cooperation.

Berlin's path or not, there are still obstacles to overcome.

It is unclear to what extent German and Swedish needs are similar to those of France.

GCAP, according to insiders, is limited by the 2035 deadline that Japan and Germany agreed upon. This makes it difficult for Germany to be offered anything more than a minor role.

There are also questions about whether a country can do it alone.

Dassault - the only European company to have built a fighter using domestic engines - says it's ready to do it again, even though "French finances are stretched."

Sources denied that this was the beginning of a new project. However, Airbus will be lobbying for German companies at the air show.

Schoellhorn downplayed the possibility of going solo. He said that Germany has repeatedly made it clear, including on the 'political side', that they continue to be European.

Analysts say that despite fiscal pressures and a limited domestic demand to keep costs low, European nations producing fighters other than France are likely to continue to pursue alliances. This could extend to the Middle East.

"It does not make the product cheaper but it makes it more affordable." Barrie stated that some of these things are really hard to do by yourself, except for Americans or Chinese. (Additional reporting from Johan Ahlander. Ludwig Burger. Angelo Amante. Sarah Young. Joanna Plucinska. Michel Rose. Mark Potter is the editor.

(source: Reuters)