German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has called on France to take decisive action to resolve the standstill surrounding the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) fighter jet project, a collaborative endeavor between France, Germany, and Spain initiated in 2017. This ambitious project aims to replace France’s Rafale jets as well as the Eurofighter aircraft currently utilized by Germany and Spain.
At the heart of the impasse are escalating tensions between the primary industrial stakeholders involved: Dassault Aviation, representing French interests, and Airbus, which caters to German and Spanish demands. Reports from German media outlet Hartpunkt indicate that France seeks to control approximately 80 percent of the project’s work, a demand that has caused friction among the partner nations.
During a recent joint press conference with Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles, Pistorius emphasized the need to prioritize collective objectives over individual national interests to facilitate progress in the FCAS project. He expressed optimism about the upcoming three-nation meeting scheduled to take place in Berlin this October, where they will assess the current situation and strategize on how to navigate and eliminate existing hurdles.
As the lead contractor, Dassault has proposed revisiting the terms of their agreements to gain more flexibility in selecting subcontractors, a move that Pistorius contested. He asserted that existing agreements must be respected and any modifications should follow fresh negotiations among the parties involved.
Pistorius further underscored the urgency of moving forward, declaring that “the project cannot tolerate any more delay.” His comments echo the sentiments of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who recently expressed confidence in overcoming the project’s challenges. As part of their diplomatic efforts, Merz is set to meet with French President Emmanuel Macron ahead of a Franco-German ministerial council in Toulon, aimed at reinforcing bilateral cooperation on this critical defense initiative.
