Investigating methods to assume France's position in Europe's leading fighter jet development program is under scrutiny in Germany.
The Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a €100 billion fighter jet program designed to replace the Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon by 2040, is facing turbulent waters. Tensions between France and Germany are pushing Berlin to explore alternative partners, as the two nations struggle to find common ground.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's spokesperson, Stefan Kornelius, confirmed that Berlin and Paris are still aligning their positions. However, Kornelius stressed that Berlin's demand is clear: the distribution of burdens and work in this armaments project must be carried out in accordance with the contract.
The crux of the issue lies with Dassault Aviation, a French company with a significant stake in the FCAS. Reports suggest that Dassault is pushing for an 80 percent share of the work on the Next-Generation Weapon System (NGWS), a move that has triggered anger in Berlin.
Lecornu, the new French Prime Minister, who was directly involved in FCAS negotiations, is seen in Berlin as the one figure with the authority to bring Dassault to the table. If Lecornu uses his new clout to push for compromise with Airbus, FCAS could still advance to its next phase. But if he backs Dassault's hard line on dividing the work and the leadership, Berlin's fallback options with the U.K. and Sweden—or even a solo program—could gain traction.
The U.K., with its strong industrial base in stealth design and system integration through BAE Systems, could potentially contribute to FCAS. However, it is unclear how it could work on two competing projects without a conflict of interests.
Sweden could contribute through Saab, which builds the Gripen fighter and has long-standing expertise in avionics, sensors, and lightweight airframes. The German government has considered Spain as a partner in talks with Airbus for a replacement option in the FCAS development after France's leadership demands have caused conflicts. Spain is already involved in the FCAS project alongside Germany and France, with companies like Airbus and Indra participating.
As technical meetings between industry, government officials, and arms procurement agencies continue, a trilateral gathering among defense ministers from Spain, Germany, and France is scheduled for October. The Spanish government did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Merz was in Madrid on Thursday, where he met with Spanish PM Pedro Sánchez and the two discussed FCAS. They assessed the current situation as unsatisfactory and expressed a desire for a solution as soon as possible.
This article has been updated. A trilateral gathering among defense ministers from Spain, Germany, and France is scheduled for October. The German defense ministry has had discussions with Airbus about the FCAS, expressing discontent with what they see as a push by French industry for an outsized role in the program.
The FCAS is not simply one aircraft but is envisioned as a "system of systems" called the Next-Generation Weapon System (NGWS), combining a next-generation fighter jet (NGF), drones, and a connection to the online cloud.
The German government is exploring potential closer cooperation with Sweden or the U.K., or going it alone with Spain, as fallback options. As the deadline for a deal approaches, the future of the FCAS program hangs in the balance.