This article is published in Aviation Daily part of Aviation Week Intelligence Network (AWIN), and is complimentary through Jul 12, 2026. For information on becoming an AWIN Member to access more content like this, click here.
An artist's impression of the NGSA.
BERLIN—Germany's aerospace industry must have a fair share in Airbus' Next-Generation Single-Aisle (NGSA), which the airframer is studying as an A320 replacement, Katherina Reiche, federal minister for economic affairs and energy, said June 9.
Her speech at the Berlin Aviation Summit, on the eve of the ILA Berlin air show, came as Airbus and Dassault Aviation are terminating their cooperation on the New Generation Fighter, a central pillar in the Franco-Germano-Spanish Future Combat Air System program. Years of bitter disagreement between the two companies about their respective work shares—with France's Dassault fighting tooth and nail for an exclusive role in flight controls—ended up in the split, which Chancellor Friedrich Merz is expected to make official at ILA Berlin. Meanwhile, French lobbying association GIFAS tends to portray Airbus as a French enterprise.
Reiche's comments suggest the German government will negotiate for the country's companies and workers to benefit from the NGSA project. “Germany must have a place at the table,” she said. “We will bring our system expertise and share of technology.”
While Airbus has factories and its headquarters in Toulouse, the airframer has design offices and major production lines in Germany, in addition to sites in other countries. Airbus relies on an international supply chain, with French and German suppliers playing a crucial part.
“This is what a truly European partnership looks like,” Reiche went on. “A partnership only stays strong when every member contributes its own strength.”
The German government owns 10.8% of Airbus, the same percentage as the French government.
Related Content
