Despite the collapse of the sixth-generation FCAS fighter jet program, Germany and France intend to preserve the initiative’s technological foundations and collaborate on more “realistic” defense projects moving forward, according to German officials.
In a statement provided to Breaking Defense, German government officials confirmed reports that leaders in Berlin and Paris have accepted that the ambitions for the troubled fighter program must be abandoned, citing an inability among industrial partners to reach a consensus.
“[French] President [Emmanuel] Macron and [German] Chancellor [Angela] Merkel have reached the shared conclusion that the companies involved in building a joint fighter jet cannot reach an agreement,” the officials stated. “Chancellor Merkel has therefore advised President Macron not to pursue the construction of a joint fighter jet any further.”
Despite the cancellation of the aircraft, officials emphasized that the two nations will attempt to save the “core” of the broader program: the next-generation “system of systems” for data sharing.
“This is, in a sense, the nervous system that connects aircraft, drones, and other components into an integrated whole,” the German statement explained.
While it remains uncertain which other elements—such as engine projects or loyal wingman drones—will be retained, officials indicated that further discussions are scheduled for next month.
“At the Franco-German Ministerial Council meeting in Germany this July, both defense ministries are set to draft a joint, up-to-date work plan for defense industry cooperation, focusing on a few realistic and relevant projects,” the statement added.
The French Ministry of Defense referred inquiries regarding FCAS to the president’s office, which has not issued a public comment. Spain, another partner in the FCAS project, has also remained silent regarding the dissolution of the fighter program.
Launched in 2017 with an estimated cost of €100 billion ($115 billion), the FCAS project was plagued by persistent obstacles. The German statement alluded to longstanding friction between Dassault and Airbus, primarily concerning leadership, workshare allocation, and conflicting visions for the aircraft’s design.
Breaking Defense reported in March that manufacturers had made a final attempt to align on the New Generation Fighter (NGF). Airbus had previously advocated for a dual-fighter approach, which would have allowed France to develop a separate aircraft capable of delivering nuclear weapons.
Belgium, which holds observer status in the program, had previously criticized European leadership for pursuing two parallel fighter projects—FCAS and the UK-Italy-Japan Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP)—arguing that such duplication demonstrates a lack of European coordination.
Following the news of FCAS’s demise, Theo Francken stated on social media that the failure should serve as a “painful wake-up call” for European capitals to prioritize integration and collaboration over individual national interests.