Franco-German Fighter Jet Project: Decision Looms Amid Disputes

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron are set to deliberate on the FCAS project in mid-December. The project has faced ongoing issues between Dassault Aviation and Airbus. The defence ministers of Germany, France, and Spain will meet before the Franco-German discussions.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron are preparing to address the fate of the embattled Franco-German fighter jet project, FCAS, during talks scheduled for mid-December, as reported by an industry source.

The ambitious 100-billion-euro Future Combat Air System faces significant hurdles due to conflicts over workshare and technology rights between France's Dassault Aviation and Airbus. Germany, France, and Spain are coordinating a key meeting of their defence ministers on December 11 to discuss the project's future.

While a German government spokesperson abstained from giving a specific date, they assured the eventual public disclosure of the chancellor's schedule. Meanwhile, German business leaders ramp up lobbying efforts in hopes of sustaining the project, as Merz pushes for a year-end resolution.