German air show opens under shadow of Iran war, fighter project collapse

BERLIN — Germany’s ILA air show opened on Wednesday under the twin shadows of the Iran war and the collapse this week of a flagship Franco-German fighter jet project, clouding what is meant to be one of Europe’s premier aerospace showcases.The Berlin event, which dates back to 1909, puts a large slice of Europe’s defense industry on display as companies pitch new technology to governments and military buyers.It also highlights the push by European manufacturers to narrow the gap with U.S. rivals and persuade governments to back them as the region ramps up defense spending.After FCAS demise, Germany’s options include ordering more F-35 warplanesYet the build-up to the show was dominated by the scrapping of the Franco-German Future Combat Air System (FCAS), long billed as Europe’s most ambitious defense project but ultimately undone by industrial rivalry. Its demise has underscored the difficulty Europe faces in building military capacity at scale.The decision comes as Western officials warn of a growing threat from Russia and the U.S. presses Europe to re-arm more quickly.Reshaping alliancesAirbus, which represented Germany and Spain in FCAS, is increasingly looking to Sweden’s Saab as a preferred partner, as companies jostle to reshape industrial alliances, three people familiar with the matter told Reuters.The Iran war has added to the sense of unease, exposing strains in transatlantic ties and even raising questions about NATO’s future, while also hitting airlines as flights are canceled and jet fuel costs rise.Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has openly questioned whether a manned sixth-generation fighter jet still makes sense for Germany’s air force, is due to address the show on Wednesday.MTU Aero Engines Head of Programmes Ottmar Pfaender said decisions on how to proceed must be taken in the coming weeks, adding the engine maker was open to working with other companies.Stephanie Lingemann, a senior executive at defense startup Helsing, said technologies such as