Belgium to Exit SCAF Fighter Jet Program, Eyes US Drones
Belgian Defence Minister Theo Francken has called for Belgium to withdraw from the SCAF (Future Combat Air System) fighter jet program, arguing the Franco-German project is “dead and buried” and that Belgium’s observer role “no longer has added value.” He has signaled interest in pivoting toward the US-led Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, which develops autonomous drone wingmen for fighter jets like the F-35 — a platform Belgium already operates.
Context: A Collapsed European Dream
The SCAF program, initiated in 2017 by French President Emmanuel Macron and then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel, was Europe’s most ambitious defense cooperation project. It aimed to develop a sixth-generation stealth fighter — the Next Generation Fighter (NGF) — along with a network of drone swarms, cruise missiles, and an advanced Air Combat Cloud. The program involved major contractors including Dassault Aviation, Airbus Defence & Space, Safran, MBDA, Thales, and Indra.
However, the project collapsed on June 8, 2026, after eight years of development and roughly €100 billion in projected investment. According to The Aviationist, the decision was taken by Chancellor Friedrich Merz and President Macron on the sidelines of the EU-Western Balkans summit in Tivat, Montenegro. The program fell apart due to irreconcilable industrial disputes between Dassault Aviation and Airbus over workshare division — Dassault sought up to 80% of the workshare for the NGF, while Airbus demanded equal division per initial agreements.
Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever described the collapse as “pure stupidity,” as The Brussels Times reported.
Francken’s Announcement
Speaking on Wednesday, July 1, during a session of the Chamber’s National Defence Committee, Francken announced he would formally propose to the Federal Government that Belgium terminate its observer role in SCAF. Belgium joined the program as an observer in April 2024, allocating approximately €70 million to prepare its defense industry for potential participation.
According to La Libre Belgique, Francken expressed frustration that Belgium had not been officially informed of the program’s abandonment by its partners. “Belgium has still not been officially informed of the situation. I believe we are not being treated well,” he said.
VRT NWS reported that Francken stated: “It no longer has added value at the moment.” He added that aside from a relatively modest sum paid to a company in Charleroi, no significant budget has been committed to SCAF, and the government will evaluate how planned budgets can be reoriented to benefit the Belgian aerospace sector.
Looking West: The CCA Alternative
Francken expressed strong interest in the US Air Force’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, which develops AI-piloted “loyal wingman” drones that operate alongside fighter jets. The Netherlands became the first European country to officially join CCA in April 2026.
“It will probably be possible to participate from the start, given the state of progress of the program,” Francken said, according to DH/Belga.
Belgium’s existing F-35 fleet — the country purchased 34 F-35 Lightning II jets from Lockheed Martin in 2018, with an additional 11 approved in 2026 — makes the CCA program a natural fit. The CCA drones are specifically designed to operate alongside the F-35.
Francken pushed back against criticism that the pivot represents over-reliance on American defense technology. “The suggestion that I would only want to spend money in the US is a complete lie,” he told The Brussels Times, emphasizing that Belgium favors European cooperation with a “transatlantic component.”
Analysis: A Pragmatic Pivot
Francken’s call is a logical response to a program that has effectively ceased to exist. Maintaining observer status in a dead program serves no strategic purpose. The move also aligns with the N-VA party’s pragmatic defense philosophy, favoring effective partnerships over idealistic European integration.
The SCAF collapse and Belgium’s potential withdrawal add to a growing narrative of European defense fragmentation. However, the pivot toward CCA could strengthen US-European defense industrial ties and position Belgium as a bridge between NATO and EU defense frameworks.
For the Belgian aerospace industry, the reallocation of SCAF-prepared budgets to CCA-related work could benefit companies in Wallonia, including the Charleroi-based firm that already received SCAF funds.
What’s Next
Francken’s proposal now goes to the Federal Government for approval. Key questions remain: How will coalition partners respond? How will the €70 million originally allocated for SCAF preparation be redirected? And how quickly can Belgium join the CCA program? The answers will shape Belgium’s defense posture for decades to come.