Germany and France officially cancelled the development of a joint next-generation fighter jet. This aircraft served as the centerpiece for the €100 billion Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program.
The decision follows years of unresolved disputes between Dassault Aviation and Airbus. Industrial partners disagreed over leadership roles, intellectual property rights, and work-sharing arrangements.
Strategic requirements also diverged, as France required a nuclear-capable, carrier-based aircraft. High-level political efforts failed to salvage the initiative originally launched in 2017.
Both nations will continue cooperation on the FCAS combat cloud network to connect air and drone systems. Respective defense ministries are now exploring alternative joint defense-industrial projects.