No talks between Germany and UK, Sweden on fighter jet, German minister says

The German government is not in talks with Britain and Sweden to explore alternatives to the Franco-German FCAS programme for the joint development of a sixth generation fighter jet, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said on Tuesday.

"No, there are no such talks," he told reporters in Berlin when asked about reports last week by the Financial Times and Politico that Germany was exploring such alternatives.

There will be a meeting in Berlin in October with France, Spain and Germany to discuss how to proceed, he said, adding: "It is clear that, by the end of the year, there must and will be a decision taken."