Germany and France abandon the joint project for a new generation fighter jet. A new signal regarding the difficulties of European cooperation
Germany and France have decided to abandon the joint project to develop a new generation fighter jet, one of the most ambitious European defense initiatives, after years of industrial disputes and misunderstandings between the companies involved, reports CNN.
Fighter plane/PHOTO:X
According to German officials, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed the future of the program on the sidelines of the European Union and Western Balkans summit held in Montenegro last week.
The two leaders concluded that there are no longer realistic prospects for overcoming the deadlock between the main industrial partners of the project – the European aerospace group Airbus, which represents the interests of Germany and Spain, and the French company Dassault Aviation.
In this context, Merz would have recommended to Macron not to continue the development of the joint aircraft.
The Élysée Palace confirmed that the subject had been discussed at length, expressing regret that the firms involved had not been able to reach an agreement.
A project valued at 100 billion euros
Launched in 2017 by Emmanuel Macron and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the program was considered the cornerstone of European defense cooperation.
The estimated value of the project exceeded 100 billion euros and included the participation of Spain. The concept called for the development of a sixth-generation fighter jet supported by autonomous drones and connected through a secure digital network known as the “combat cloud”.
The decision to scrap the core component of the program comes as Western officials warn of a growing threat from Russia and the United States calls on European allies to step up defense investment.
Divergences regarding control and technical requirements
Negotiations between Airbus and Dassault have been plagued for several years by difficulties related to project control, access to intellectual property and the division of responsibilities at development stages.
In addition, the two states had different operational requirements for the future aircraft.
According to European sources familiar with the file, the parties are now trying to keep certain elements of the program under the name Future Combat Air System (FCAS), including the development of digital systems and secure communications networks.
This solution is considered largely symbolic, but would allow some technology projects to continue without officially declaring the entire initiative a failure.
Analysts believe the jet's abandonment is a blow to Europe's ambitions to strengthen its strategic defense autonomy.
“It's not an ideal signal for either Washington or Moscow,” said Douglas Barrie, a military aviation specialist at the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS).
For his part, British analyst Francis Tusa stated that the project “had been in survival mode for years,” using the French acronym SCAF to describe the program.
The decision recalls France's withdrawal from the Eurofighter program in the 1980s and highlights the difficulties Europe faces in developing large-scale joint military programs after decades of underinvestment in the defense sector.
Doubts over the future of manned fighter jets
Friedrich Merz has repeatedly expressed his reservations about the need to develop a sixth-generation aircraft with a pilot on board.
The German chancellor suggested that the rapid development of drones and autonomous systems raises questions about the relevance of such platforms for the future of the air force.
He also stressed that Germany does not need an aircraft capable of carrying nuclear weapons and operating from aircraft carriers – requirements considered important by the French side.
Despite the failure of this project, Paris and Berlin reiterated that defense cooperation remains essential to European security and that they will continue to seek other forms of strategic collaboration.
