Attempts to reach a compromise on the construction of FCAS have not yielded results, reports the Handelsblatt daily, citing sources familiar with the negotiations.
Special mediators from both countries participated in the talks. Germany was represented by Frank Haun, former head of the tank manufacturer KMW, currently KNDS Deutschland, considered one of the most experienced managers in the defense industry. The French side was represented by Laurent Collet-Billon, who previously headed the French Directorate General of Armaments.
At the end of March, the German government announced that a decision on the program was to be made by the end of April at the latest. The deadline results from work on the German budget for 2027.in which the financing of the project must be determined. The decision has already been postponed several times.
FCAS. Big project with big problems
FCAS stands for Future Combat Air System, a planned next-generation combat system. The new machine is to replace the Eurofighter and French Rafale fighters used by Germany from 2040. The total cost of the program is estimated at hundreds of billions of euros. The concept assumes cooperation of the fighter with unmanned aerial vehicles and a combat cloud command network.
The program has been struggling with difficulties resulting from conflicts between companies for years. French Dassault clashes with German Airbus, which also represents a third partner – Spanish Indra. The tensions concern primarily the division of tasks and the rights to use technological solutions.
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The head of Dassault, Eric Trappier, demands a leading position in the construction of the fighter and taking over most of the work. He accuses Airbus of blocking the entire project. The German company, in turn, insists on maintaining the previously agreed, more even distribution of responsibilities.
