France and Germany scrap joint fighter jet project
French officials said France and Germany could not continue their fighter jet projects because German officials decided that it was not possible for the companies involved to continue.
Officials said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed the project in Montenegro last week and concluded there was no way to break the months-long impasse between the arms companies involved in the plan.
Sources said both leaders agreed that countries involved in the project, known as the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), will continue to develop a relevant drone system and data network.
They added that Merz and Macron came to the common conclusion that Dassault and Airbus could not agree on the construction of the jet.
“The German authorities considered that it was not possible to apply further pressure on the companies concerned,” the Elysee said in a statement.
“The French authorities will continue to encourage our companies and our armed forces to explore ways and means of pursuing ambitious European projects consistent with our national security interests,” the statement said.
The project, which centers on a core fighter powered by drones and linked by a stealth “battle cloud”, has been in doubt for months as the two sides squabble over specifications and control.
Merz openly questioned whether developing a manned sixth-generation fighter jet still made sense for his country’s air force and said Germany did not need a nuclear-capable jet that could land on an aircraft carrier.
with DPA
