Decision on FCAS fighter jet programme postponed indefinitely

A German government spokesperson was unable to provide a new date for a decision at this stage

Euractiv

Alpha jets from the French Air Force Patrouille de France performs during the 53rd International Paris Air Show [Mustafa Yalcin/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images]

Germany and France were not able to keep their intention to resolve the brewing conflict surrounding the next-generation fighter jet project FCAS by the end of the year, a German government spokesperson confirmed.

Progress on the joint €100 billion joint project has stalled amid disputes between France’s and Germany’s aerospace champions over leadership and work allocation. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron had aimed to resolve a long-running conflict over Europe’s flagship defence programme, the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), by the end of 2025.

“Contrary to the original plan, a final decision on the continuation of the FCAS project by the end of the year has not yet been made,” a German government spokesperson told Euractiv.

The government official was unable to provide a new date for a decision at this stage.

The future fighter jet – which is being designed to operate alongside a network of drones and a digital combat cloud – is expected to replace the current air fleets of the three partner countries Germany, France and Spain from 2040 onwards. Any further delay to the project would endanger this timeline.

Merz, Macron and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez had planned to discuss the issue on the sidelines of the Brussels summits in mid-December, but no announcement followed.

“The comprehensive Franco-German agenda on foreign and security policy issues has not yet made it possible to address the issue of a joint fighter aircraft at the level of the president and the chancellor,” the German spokesperson said.

In the past, the project’s lead contractors, Germany’s Airbus Defence and France’s Dassault, have publicly aired their disagreements about the work plan, raising serious doubts about the project’s continuation, with both sides arguing they would be better off without the other.

A possible solution is to continue with two separate planes, each adjusted to the needs of Germany or France, and jointly continue to develop the core of the project, its combat cloud and autonomous drones.

(ow)

Dec 31, 2025 - 11:15 Last updated: Dec 31, 2025 - 12:28