After the first 2 days of the International Fighter Conference, organized in Rome by Defence IQ and closing today, a strong impression arose: the United States - both at the governmental and industrial levels - is actively promoting its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program across Europe. The recent entry of the Netherlands, following the signing of a Letter of Intent (LOI) with Washington, could represent only the beginning. The real target, for obvious reasons, now appears to be other European F-35 operators. Adding to this impression is the fact that, in the small static display area of the Fighter Conference, mock-ups of the 2 contenders for the Increment 1 phase of the CCA program are on show: Anduril’s FURY YFQ-44A and General Atomics’ YFQ-42A. Both companies are also among the event’s main sponsors.

The feeling is reinforced by what we have been able to hear — though we cannot disclose further details at the moment - as the conference is held under Chatham House Rules. In our view, such a development would have major repercussions not only on the operational capabilities of European air forces, but also on the industrial landscape of the continent and its strategic autonomy.

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