Belgium commits €300 million to become full FCAS partner in 2026–2030 phase 

Belgium is planning to move from observer status to full partnership in the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program, with the government allocating €300 million for the next development phase scheduled for 2026–2030.  

The decision was detailed in the country’s updated defense strategy, ‘Vision Stratégique Défense 2025’, and marks a significant step in Belgium’s ambition to participate in Europe’s next-generation air combat system. 

From observer to full integration 

Belgium joined the FCAS program as an observer in December 2023, following a pledge made at the Paris Air Show earlier that year. At the time, Belgian Defense Minister Ludivine Dedonder said the country would “not miss this opportunity” to take part in a major European defense project combining advanced technologies for both military and civilian applications. 

In November 2023, Dedonder announced Belgium’s intention to fully integrate into FCAS by mid-2025, ahead of Phase 2 of the program. That timeline is now confirmed, with resources secured for full participation in the upcoming development stage. 

Belgium’s defense strategy notes that the €300 million allocation is intended to secure full membership and provide access to sensitive work areas within FCAS. Authorities emphasized that participation must generate industrial and technological benefits for the national defense sector. 

The same document also confirmed Belgium’s decision to purchase 11 additional F-35A fighter jets, expanding on the initial order of 34 aircraft. While the F-35 fleet will remain the backbone of Belgian combat aviation for decades, the defense plan suggests that a mixed fleet of F-35s and a European sixth-generation fighter could become an option beyond 2040, provided budgetary and personnel conditions allow. 

What is FCAS? 

The FCAS, also known as the Système de Combat Aérien du Futur (SCAF), is a joint program between France, Germany, and Spain. It aims to deliver a “system of systems” centered on a sixth-generation fighter known as the New Generation Fighter (NGF), supported by uncrewed Remote Carriers and a secure Combat Cloud enabling networked operations. The first demonstrators are expected to fly by the end of the decade, with initial operational capability targeted for 2040. 

Phase 2 of FCAS, planned for 2026 to 2030, is expected to produce the first technology demonstrators. The overall cost for this phase is estimated at €5 billion across all partners. Beyond 2030, operational development could require an additional €40–50 billion to bring the system into service. 

Renewed tensions within the program 

Belgium’s participation has sparked debate among industrial stakeholders since 2023. While some executives welcomed a broader European collaboration, others warned of the complexity that comes with expanding the partnership. Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier has previously cautioned that enlarging the program could complicate development schedules and workload sharing. 

At the Paris Air Show 2025, Trappier reiterated frustrations over the program’s industrial setup, warning Dassault could pursue the New Generation Fighter alone if cooperation did not improve. Airbus responded within hours, reaffirming its commitment to FCAS but calling for “simplified cooperation frameworks” and quicker alignment. 

“We are competitors that have to marry,” Airbus Head of Military Air Systems Jean-Brice Dumont said during the event. 

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The debate intensified in July 2025 when German outlet hartpunkt reported that France was seeking an “80% stake” in the fighter project, triggering backlash in Berlin. Bundestag defense rapporteur Christoph Schmid warned that such an arrangement would mean “financing a French project with German funds.” 

Thomas Pretzl, chair of the Airbus Defence and Space Works Council, went further, questioning Dassault’s suitability as a partner and suggesting that Europe has “more attractive and suitable” alternatives, hinting at potential links with the British-led GCAP or Sweden’s Saab. The post Belgium commits €300 million to become full FCAS partner in 2026–2030 phase  appeared first on AeroTime.

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