India Moves to Join France-Led FCAS Sixth-Generation Fighter Programme

India has begun efforts to co-join the French-led Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a sixth-generation fighter programme, as disclosed in the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence's report tabled on 7 August 2026. The move follows Germany's exit from FCAS and positions India alongside France in next-generation combat aviation - though the form of participation is not yet defined.