German lawmaker warns Berlin may exit Franco-German FCAS fighter jet project

The German government faces a critical decision on whether to continue its commitment to the Franco-German-Spanish Future Combat Air System (FCAS) or abandon the project, a prominent member of the German parliament’s defence committee told Reuters on 26 August, ahead of pivotal high-level talks.

Berlin has accused French industry, particularly Dassault Aviation, of obstructing the next phase of FCAS by demanding sole leadership, escalating long-standing tensions over workshare and intellectual property rights. This dispute not only jeopardizes the development of airworthy demonstrators, originally slated for completion by the end of 2025, but also raises broader questions about Europe’s pursuit of strategic defence autonomy in an increasingly volatile global security landscape.

The FCAS, a €100 billion-plus initiative involving France’s Dassault Aviation, Germany’s Airbus, and Spain’s Indra, aims to deliver a sixth-generation fighter jet and a system of systems – including swarming drones and a combat cloud – by 2040, replacing France’s Rafale and Germany and Spain’s Eurofighters.

However, the project, launched in 2017 by French President Emmanuel Macron and then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel, has been plagued by delays and disagreements, reflecting deeper challenges in aligning national interests with Europe’s ambition to reduce reliance on U.S. defence capabilities. The topic is set to dominate discussions between Macron, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and their ministers at a summit in Toulon on 28-29 August, where failure to agree on entering Phase 2 could jeopardize the entire program.

“If we don’t get a decision at Toulon to enter Phase 2, everything becomes more and more difficult,” said Christoph Schmid, a member of the Bundestag’s defence committee and a Social Democrat aligned with Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, on 26 August.

“The longer a decision is delayed, the more unrealistic an implementation of FCAS becomes.”

Schmid’s warning underscores the urgency of resolving disputes, particularly as France’s reported demand for an 80% workshare – covering the Next Generation Fighter (NGF), engine, and sensors – has sparked outrage in Germany, with lawmakers like Schmid arguing that Berlin cannot fund a “French project with German money.” This tension threatens not only FCAS but also Europe’s broader goal of achieving strategic autonomy, which seeks to bolster indigenous defence capabilities amid rising geopolitical threats, including Russia’s aggression in Ukraine and uncertainties over U.S. NATO commitments under President Donald Trump.

Schmid pointed to the Eurofighter, a successful collaboration between Germany, Britain, and Italy, as a model that excluded France and still delivered results.

“It would not be a catastrophe for Germany and France to part ways now if this is in the national or European interest,” he said, advocating for ordering 60 additional Eurofighters by 2029 to replace Germany’s aging Tornado fleet.

This alternative could pave the way for Germany to explore other options, such as further developing the Eurofighter, pursuing a national project, joining the rival Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) led by Britain, Italy, and Japan, or partnering with a new ally like Sweden. Such a pivot would signal a significant setback for European defence integration, undermining the EU’s push for unified procurement and technological sovereignty at a time when global competitors like China are advancing rapidly in military technology.

The German defence ministry declined to comment immediately, but a spokesperson previously emphasised that intergovernmental agreements remain the binding framework for Berlin’s participation.

An Airbus spokesperson reaffirmed the company’s commitment to FCAS, noting that the coming months are critical for launching the development phase.

However, the reported French demand for an 80% workshare, which would relegate Germany to leading only the combat cloud and remote carriers, risks scrapping the agreed division of tasks, potentially stalling the project indefinitely. French Armed Forces Minister Sébastien Lecornu has called FCAS a “moment of truth,” warning that delays could leave Europe trailing competitors like China, who “will not wait for us” by the 2040 deadline.

Sebastian Schaefer, a Greens member of the Bundestag’s budget committee, urged Pistorius to address the friction directly with industry leaders and his French counterpart, Sébastien Lecornu. “Everyone is talking about joint procurement, but we are not getting it done, even though we have endless funds now,” Schaefer said, criticising the tendency to solely blame French industry.

The FCAS’s struggles reflect a critical test for Europe’s strategic autonomy, which aims to reduce dependence on U.S. systems like the F-35 and ensure exportable, interoperable defence platforms. The project’s failure could weaken Europe’s ability to project power independently, especially as France emphasizes FCAS’s role in nuclear deterrence and carrier operations, while Germany prioritises industrial equity and jobs.

The FCAS dispute comes at a critical juncture for Europe’s defence ambitions, as articulated by leaders like Macron and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, who advocate for strategic autonomy to mitigate the less previsible U.S. relationship after Donald Trump returned to the White House.

The EU’s broader defence strategy, including initiatives like the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) tank project, also faces similar Franco-German tensions, underscoring the difficulty of aligning national priorities.

Sources: Reuters, Politico, Global Defence Corp

Caption: The FCAS, a €100 billion-plus initiative involving France’s Dassault Aviation, Germany’s Airbus, and Spain’s Indra, aims to deliver a sixth-generation fighter jet and a system of systems – including swarming drones and a combat cloud – by 2040. [@Defence_IDA on X]