Paris and Berlin before crucial meeting: dispute over FCAS fighter jet escalates!

Paris and Berlin before crucial meeting: dispute over FCAS fighter jet escalates!

In the fight for supremacy in the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), Paris and Berlin are called upon. A key meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and the new Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Toulon is on the agenda on Thursday. Both sides are hoping for an agreement to resolve ongoing differences over the fighter jet project. According to the Élysée Palace, there is “shared agreement” that the tensions between the industrial partners can be resolved Euractiv reported.

The dispute between the two major industrial players Dassault and Airbus has been dragging on for months. This is about the leadership role and the division of labor in the project. Dassault reportedly claims to manage 60 percent of the project's shares, which has led to tensions daily news determines. These different opinions about the share of management work are no coincidence. Airbus is angry about Dassault's demands and has also publicly expressed its concerns. Dassault's CEO, Éric Trappier, has clearly spoken out in favor of global project management to coordinate technical interfaces.

The importance of the project

The FCAS project plays a crucial role in Europe's military independence. The importance is increased by the goal of replacing the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Rafale jets by 2040. Macron and Merz have already made it clear before the meeting that there is no “Plan B” for the FCAS; An agreement must be reached by the end of the year in order not to further jeopardize the timetable. This urgency is also supported by French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu, who is calling for an honest discussion on project management.

The conflict between Dassault and Airbus also has an impact on the entire industry. The Airbus works council in Munich expresses concerns about the collaboration with Dassault and speaks of “one-sided French dominance”, which is supported by the statements of the industry association BDLI. The negotiations are complicated and involve many actors, as France, Germany and Spain should each contribute a third to the development of the fighter jet, as Daily Mirror reported.

A look into the future

Against the backdrop of these tensions, agreement inevitably appears to be both necessary and difficult. The transition from the planning stage to the prototype construction phase is imminent, but its successful implementation depends on the clarification of responsibilities. Airbus's head of defense, Michael Schöllhorn, suggests that without harmonious interaction between the partners, the entire project could be on the rocks.

The next meeting in Toulon will be crucial as to whether the European partners can resolve their differences. It looks like a lot depends on the ministers' optimism and willingness to cooperate. Time is of the essence as the next steps need to be carefully balanced to ensure that Europe does not fall behind in modern combat technology.