The ambitious Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a key Franco-German defense cooperation project, hangs by a thread amidst deepening disagreements between its main industrial partners. Eric Trappier, CEO of French jet-maker Dassault Aviation, recently stated that France still believes in the project, but his company is ready to collaborate with another industrial team if sharp disputes with Airbus cannot be resolved.
A Fragile Alliance in the Air: Dassault’s Ultimatum
„We will find other partners if we need to,” Trappier affirmed, emphasizing that the choice of these partners’ nationality rests with French authorities. His tone grew blunt as he warned: „If Airbus maintains its position of not wanting to work with Dassault, then the project is dead.” This statement contradicts recent remarks from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who suggested last month that Berlin would need different capabilities than Paris for a sixth-generation fighter system, signaling a potential distancing of Germany from FCAS’s initial vision.
The French Vision: A Single Leader for Common Success
Trappier vehemently rejected the idea of different aircraft, stating that, at the highest levels of French authorities, operational requirements are considered identical, or at least there is agreement at the operational levels. French President Emmanuel Macron echoed a similar vision during a trip to India, where negotiations for the acquisition of fourth-generation fighter jets are underway. Macron advocated for a „common European model” and warned that „normal friction” between industrial partners should not „decide the strategy of nations.” „Is it the best use of our money to develop several planes? We must have a European standard,” the President added.
While Trappier acknowledged he didn’t know who was right in the governmental disputes, the tensions between Dassault and Airbus are evident. The Dassault CEO stressed that his firm has „no problem with Germany,” having other partnerships already, but accused Airbus of not respecting the initial FCAS contract. This contract envisioned not only the development of the Next Generation Fighter (NGF) but also drone wingmen and a „combat cloud” communications network. According to Trappier, Dassault was designated to lead the fighter jet development, while Airbus was to be responsible for the other components.
„Dassault believes that in order to be efficient there must be a real leader who decides that this sub-contractor is proficient, or not. Who decides on the forms of the aircraft, who takes the responsibility of then putting it in the air,” Trappier explained, rejecting a „co-co-co” leadership approach. He mentioned that Dassault would be a sub-contractor of Airbus for developing the drone wingmen, a situation that does not worry them at all. Airbus declined to comment for this report but has historically been more reserved in publicly discussing program issues.
Beyond Conflicts: A Political Project with Strategic Stakes
In June, after Trappier publicly pushed for more control over the program, Jean-Brice Dumont, head of air power at Airbus Defence and Space, acknowledged „tensions” but emphasized Airbus’s commitment to FCAS. He added that it was already too late for Airbus to jump over to a rival European sixth-generation fighter jet program, the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP), led by the British, Italians, and Japanese. An industry source previously suggested that, should FCAS fully fracture, long-term planning could involve the development of two separate fighter airframes – one by France and the other by Germany, alongside Spain, FCAS’s third current partner.
Paul Taylor, senior visiting fellow in defense and security at the Belgian-based European Policy Centre think tank, recently stated that FCAS „has been dead for a year or two, it just won’t lie down, because it’s a political project.” Regardless of FCAS’s future, Dassault appears to be in excellent financial shape. The company recently announced a nearly 27% increase in its value since the beginning of the year.
