Former Airbus CEO Thomas Enders, who led the company from 2012 to 2019, has publicly warned against Germany pursuing a solo fighter jet development, labeling it a "gigantic misallocation of resources" and "industrial-political overestimation." He argues that if the European FCAS project fails, Germany should not embark on a national project, citing the immense costs (hundreds of billions, readiness earliest 2040s) and the future dominance of autonomous drone systems (UCAVs). Enders criticizes past German government decisions, including choosing France over the UK for FCAS and the F-35 purchase. He advocates for cooperation with partners like the UK (GCAP) or Sweden to strengthen European industrial capabilities in unmanned systems, which he believes are crucial for future warfare.