Key facts
- Protesters disrupted the opening of Berlin's ILA air show by blocking roads.
- Hundreds of attendees were forced to walk to the venue.
- Germany and France will jointly outline a reworked collaboration project on air defence data networks by July.
- The Franco-German Future Combat Air System (FCAS) fighter jet project was recently scrapped.
- Germany's cabinet approved a new 15-year aviation strategy.
Germany's ILA air show opened in Berlin on Wednesday, overshadowed by the collapse of the flagship Franco-German Future Combat Air System (FCAS) fighter jet project and ongoing global conflicts. Protesters disrupted the event's opening, blocking roads and forcing hundreds of attendees to walk to the venue.
The ILA air show, which dates back to 1909, serves as a major platform for Europe's defense industry to showcase new technologies amid increased defense spending. The demise of the FCAS project, once billed as Europe's most ambitious defense initiative, highlights challenges in large-scale European military capacity building, particularly as Western nations warn of growing threats from Russia.
Airbus, a key player in the FCAS project, is reportedly exploring partnerships with Sweden's Saab. The ongoing Iran war has also added to the sense of unease, impacting airlines and raising questions about transatlantic ties. Chancellor Friedrich Merz is expected to address the show, which features over 750 exhibitors from 37 countries and runs until June 14. Concurrently, Germany's cabinet approved a new 15-year aviation strategy aimed at cutting costs and boosting research.