Germany and France have issued a joint call for Dassault, Airbus, and Indra to reach an agreement on the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project by mid-December. The push comes as both governments seek clarity on the viability of the European next-generation fighter effort, revealed Reuters.
The FCAS initiative, launched in 2017, has faced repeated delays due to disagreements over workshare distribution and intellectual property rights among the main industrial partners. Negotiators are working toward a decision by December 18 to determine the project’s future direction.
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Dassault, Airbus, and Indra are discussing several scenarios, including a significant scale-back or complete termination of the FCAS program. The outcome hinges on whether the parties can resolve disputes, particularly around the allocation of work and technology sharing.
The FCAS is intended to replace the French Rafale and the German and Spanish Eurofighter fleets with a new combat aircraft by 2040. The program is considered central to maintaining European defense industry capabilities in the next decades.
Political leaders, including German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron, are expected to make a final decision by year-end on whether to continue with the current industrial consortium or pursue alternative approaches.
France has reportedly requested an 80% share of the work, a proposal that Dassault has denied.
Luftwaffe Eurofighter Typhoon (Wo st 01)