Germany’s aerospace industry warned that if French demands to take a dominating role in Europe’s next-generation fighter jet project are agreed to, it will mark the end of national fighter jet production for Berlin.

Progress on the joint Future Air Combat System (FCAS) project has stalled due to a dispute between France and Germany’s aviation giants. Both leading contractors, Germany’s Airbus Defence and France’s Dassault, have publicly aired their disagreements about the envisioned work.

The German Aerospace Industries Association BDLI fears the end of German fighter jet manufacturing should their French partners succeed in wresting total leadership over development of the jet part of the air combat system, according to an internal report seen by defence outlet hartpunkt.

France’s prime contractor in the €100 billion project, Dassault Aviation, has made clear that it wants a dominant role in developing the sixth-generation fighter jet, even mentioning that it would rather go it alone than continue working with Germany’s Airbus Defence.

Dassault’s leading role in the fighter jet part of the project was outlined in the initial agreement between Paris, Berlin, and Madrid, the three capitals participating in FCAS. Airbus, meanwhile, would lead the drone and AI cloud aspects of the so-called “system of systems” for the next-generation fighter jet.

However, the German side is opposing Dassault’s demand to be the sole decision maker regarding the jet development, including the choosing of relevant suppliers.

Such a shift would leave German industry at the mercy of the French in terms of development, production, logistical support and future optimisation.

“German taxpayers’ money would be used to consolidate the European aviation industry unilaterally in France,” the association assesses.

All sides agree that the timeline until 2040 is a tight one, but Dassault’s uncompromising attitude is said to have already cost the project a full year of delay.

CEOs from both firms have frequently criticised the slow advancement of the programme. Only Spain’s Indra has stayed out of the public quarrels.

“Over the next few weeks, we will have to decide where the journey can take us and what solutions are available,” Pistorius said at the beginning of November, determined to have a decision regardless of its outcome by the end of the year.