French 6th generation fighter

[Ainen]

I'm not totally sold that a reduced size stealth aircraft will be all that much cheaper.

There's no particular reason it won't be. Stealth aircraft don't have a separate price curve, what they have is a similar development cost firewall.
But when passed, you use it the way you need.

I mean, people are buying Su57-sized airframes, and those are 75,000lbs/34tonnes. (Frankly, SCAF/Fr6gen's two named missions make it sound like it will look an awful lot like a Su-57.)

In most cases, either for a lack of better (competitive) option, or for a cool factor.
Flanker in many ways broke the market.

 

[H_K]

Good news... 2.6B euros have been allocated to start development of the NGF prototype in 2027.

This money will be spent over 2027-2030+, with additional budget credits to be allocated in 2029 for development of the actual operational NGF. Also note that an even larger budget is being spent concurrently on development of Rafale F5 avionics and uprated M88 TRex engine, a large part of which will likely carry over into the NGF.

Finally, cooperation with Germany may continue on the Combat Cloud, however terms have "yet to be defined". The door is also left open to a "new cooperation framework" for the the NGF fighter.

In June 2026, Germany announced its withdrawal from cooperation on the NGF aircraft. Only certain work currently being carried out cooperatively—primarily on the Combat Cloud—might continue as a joint effort between the two countries, under terms yet to be defined. The core of the SCAF program (including the NGF aircraft), previously conducted in cooperation with Germany and Spain, will therefore be carried out under a new format: either on a national basis or within a new cooperation framework.

• The first phase of demonstration work, conducted cooperatively, was launched in December 2022 with the award of the NGWS contract.
• The second phase of demonstration work, including the maiden flight of the NGF prototype, will be launched in 2027.
• Development of the operational aircraft will begin in 2029.

Budget Credits per Year
2022: €45m
2023: €336m
2024: €480m
2025: €363m
2026: €570m
2027: €568m
2028: €671m
2029: €686m
2030+: €1,167m

Source: 2027 French budget
https://www.budget.gouv.fr/document...27/projet-loi-finances/budget-general/defense

 

[dark sidius]

Good news... 2.6B euros have been allocated to start development of the NGF prototype in 2027.

This money will be spent over 2027-2030+, with additional budget credits to be allocated in 2029 for development of the actual operational NGF. Also note that an even larger budget is being spent concurrently on development of Rafale F5 avionics and uprated M88 TRex engine, a large part of which will likely carry over into the NGF.

Finally, cooperation with Germany may continue on the Combat Cloud, however terms have "yet to be defined". The door is also left open to a "new cooperation framework" for the the NGF fighter.


Source: 2027 French budget
https://www.budget.gouv.fr/document...27/projet-loi-finances/budget-general/defense

2.6 Billion for a French demonstrator ?

 

[H_K]

2.6 Billion for a French demonstrator ?

I'm not sure I understand the question mark!

Are you asking for clarification on something or expressing doubts about the amount, the fact that the French are pursuing this demonstrator, or something else?

 

[dark sidius]

I'm not sure I understand the question mark!

Are you asking for clarification on something or expressing doubts about the amount, the fact that the French are pursuing this demonstrator, or something else?

I find the answer , very good news for the futur Fighter 2.7 billion a lot of money, the SCAF restart and this time only France on it.