France, Germany At Odds: Is Europe's 'Super Fighter Jet' Project Already Falling Apart?

Last Updated:December 18, 2025, 15:20 IST

The absence of FCAS from the agenda underlines how sharply relations have deteriorated between German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron

The initiative is now being openly described in defence circles as a looming "divorce". (AP Photo)

Europe’s ambition to dominate the skies with a home-grown 6th-generation fighter jet is facing its most serious crisis yet, with the $117 billion Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme teetering on the edge of a breakdown amid an escalating power struggle between France and Germany.

Despite earlier assurances that a final political decision would be taken by the end of this year, the issue is unlikely to figure even in discussions at the ongoing European Council meeting in Brussels, according to a Bloomberg report. The absence of FCAS from the agenda underlines how sharply relations have deteriorated between German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron, raising the prospect that the programme could be pushed to 2026 or beyond.

Such a delay would strike at the heart of Europe’s long-stated goal of strategic defence autonomy, with FCAS billed as the continent’s most ambitious military-industrial collaboration. Conceived as a joint effort between France, Germany and Spain, the project was meant to deliver a next-generation fighter jet, advanced drones and a networked “combat cloud" capable of rivaling American and Chinese systems.

Instead, the initiative is now being openly described in defence circles as a looming “divorce".

At the centre of the dispute is a battle for control between France’s Dassault Aviation and Germany’s Airbus Defence and Space. Dassault chief executive Eric Trappier has publicly signalled that he will not accept a diluted leadership role, making it clear that France is prepared to go it alone if necessary. France, which already operates the Rafale fighter designed by Dassault, is pushing for near-total authority over the design and operational architecture of the future jet.

Germany, however, has pushed back hard against what it sees as an attempt to reduce the country to the role of a cheque-writer. German officials argue that their country will not accept an arrangement in which it funds the project without exercising meaningful control, particularly over critical components such as the combat cloud and the development of autonomous combat drones.

The tensions have been further inflamed by Germany’s decision to procure US-made F-35 stealth fighters, a move widely interpreted in France as a vote of no confidence in FCAS and a tilt back towards American defence dependence.

Against this backdrop, an alternative is rapidly gaining momentum. The UK-led Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), involving Britain, Italy and Japan, has emerged as a credible rival. Italy’s defence minister has already publicly invited Germany to consider joining the GCAP framework, a shift that would fundamentally reshape Europe’s defence landscape.

If Berlin were to pivot towards the British-led effort, France would find itself isolated, while Spain, the third partner in FCAS, risks being sidelined altogether as the two larger powers lock horns. Analysts warn that prolonged indecision could ultimately result in two competing 6th-gen fighter ecosystems operating over Europe, fragmenting resources and undermining interoperability.

For Europe, the stakes extend well beyond industrial rivalry. A failure of FCAS would weaken the European Union’s ability to act independently in future conflicts, reinforcing reliance on the United States at a time when US’s long-term security commitments are increasingly uncertain.

Yet, the turmoil also carries implications far beyond the continent.

India, defence experts note, stands to gain significantly from Europe’s internal discord. France, should it proceed independently, may seek new strategic partners to share costs and expand markets for a future evolution of the Rafale platform. India, already one of the largest Rafale operators, would be a natural candidate.

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