Airbus Defence CEO Michael Schoellhorn confirmed the €100 billion Future Combat Air System (FCAS) will not fail despite severe internal challenges.
Schoellhorn cited unbridgeable differences between Airbus and France’s Dassault Aviation regarding project control and military requirements.
The core next-generation fighter jet component of the Franco-German-Spanish program currently remains at risk.
Development of the networked Combat Cloud and drone-related collaborative combat aircraft is expected to continue.
Officials are considering alternatives such as developing two separate fighters or forging new European partnerships to salvage the initiative.