Germany and France abandon joint fighter jet program
Berlin and Paris have ended cooperation on the Future Combat Air System's fighter aircraft after unresolved disputes between Dassault and Airbus Defence and Space, while work on drones and the combat-cloud component may continue.
France and Germany have decided to discontinue the fighter-jet portion of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) after prolonged disagreements between Dassault Aviation and Airbus Defence and Space over leadership and design specifications. The program, launched in 2017 and also involving Spain, was intended to replace the Rafale and Eurofighter fleets by around 2040 and included a networked combat cloud linking aircraft, drones and sensors.
A German government official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said President Emmanuel Macron and Federal Chancellor Friedrich Merz concluded that the companies could not reach an agreement and that Merz advised Macron not to pursue a joint fighter further.
"President Macron and Chancellor Merz have come to the shared conclusion that the companies involved will not be able to come together to build a joint fighter jet. They acknowledge this reality," the official told POLITICO.
The French presidency acknowledged that Airbus and Dassault failed to agree and suggested the decision was driven by German authorities, while reiterating that Franco-German defence cooperation remains important for Europe.
Despite ending the fighter component, the German official indicated that the drone and combat-cloud elements of FCAS could still be pursued as a "European system of systems" that integrates various platforms. Defence ministries from both countries will develop a work plan focused on a limited number of realistic projects.
The cancellation follows similar challenges in other European defence collaborations, including maritime patrol aircraft, next-generation tanks and artillery, and the Global Combat Air Programme led by Italy, Japan and the United Kingdom.