Franco-German fighter jet clash clouds future ahead of Macron-Merz talks
The turmoil has triggered fresh concerns in Germany that French aerospace firms could dominate the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme, which is projected to cost over €100 billion. Industry voices are urging German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to firmly oppose any French efforts to take greater control of the defence initiative.
Conflict has simmered within the project almost since its launch in 2017, particularly between France and its lead contractor, Dassault Aviation, and aviation giant Airbus, which Berlin tapped to lead the German contribution to the programme. Spain joined later, bringing national defence champion Indra into the fold.
Euractiv understands that French and German defence ministers will discuss the FCAS programme when they meet on 24 July, with the issue also expected to feature in talks between German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron that same week.
Merz on Wednesday acknowledged disagreements with France over the 'composition of the consortium' behind the programme but described FCAS as a potentially valuable contribution to European defence and voiced confidence in reaching a solution. Industry quarrel Tensions boiled over when Dassault boss Eric Trappier suggested , ahead of June's Paris Air Show, that his company could build the fighter without Airbus. Meanwhile, the French government hinted at abandoning the Eurodrone long-range drone project, which also involves Dassault and Airbus because of development delays.
Trappier also warned that delays in the FCAS programme could make the aircraft obsolete before it even enters active service. The fighter jet was originally slated to be operational by 2040, but the project is already running behind schedule.
Over the weekend, news outlets reported that France had demanded 80% of the workshare on the FCAS project. France has denied making that specific demand in negotiations before launching the programme's next phase of development. German concerns The German Aerospace Industries Association – which counts Airbus among its members – reacted swiftly to the reported 80% demand, criticising France and calling for political backing from Berlin earlier this week. The lobby group's managing director, Marie-Christine von Hahn, called FCAS 'THE technological lighthouse programme' for the aerospace industry.
'The continued existence of German know-how in this highly significant military, industrial and economic segment must be preserved,' she said in a statement. 'Our companies are firmly opposed to the one-sided French quest for dominance and will work with the French side to return to the already agreed path of cooperation.'
At a meeting with workers at a major plant in the Bavarian town of Manching, the leader of the works council at Airbus, Thomas Pretzl, defended FCAS as necessary – but said France is the wrong partner for the effort.
"Partnership is based on working together and not against each other. There are more attractive and more suitable partners in Europe."
Pretzl also warned that issues around FCAS, combined with questions over the future of current programmes for the production of jets like the Eurofighter, which FCAS is set to replace, hurt Airbus Defence and Space's ability to compete with agile rivals in the US and elsewhere in Europe.
Dassault did not respond to Euractiv's requests for comment. Airbus Defence and Space also declined to comment. Massive programme in balance Disputes between Dassault and Airbus over the workshare of the project have long been part of the FCAS history, with CEOs from both firms frequently criticising the advancement of the programme in public. Spain's Indra has stayed out of the quarrels, at least publicly.
The FCAS project extends far beyond building the fighter jet itself, and encompasses a whole system of connected platforms to support the pilot. The programme envisions swarming drones for additional firepower, reconnaissance and disruption of enemy systems.
All FCAS systems are supposed to be connected and supported by the so-called "combat cloud", the third major pillar of the Franco-German-Spanish project.
The stakes are high. A rival sixth-generation fighter jet project – the British-Italian-Japanese Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), also known as Tempest – is progressing steadily, raising further questions about the viability of competing European programmes.
Meanwhile, the American F-35, led by Lockheed Martin, continues to attract European orders, and US aerospace giant Boeing is moving forward with its own sixth-generation fighter, dubbed the F-47, with a toned-down version for foreign sales.
(bts)
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