Dassault says France can build fighter jet without Germany
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Dassault’s CEO says France could build a sixth-generation fighter jet without Germany as disputes stall the €100bn Future Combat Air System project with Airbus.
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A French-made Rafale fighter jet takes off on the inaugural day of the Aero India 2021 at Yelahanka air base in India on February 3, 2021. (AP)
French defense company Dassault has said it could develop a sixth-generation fighter jet without Germany, as tensions deepen over the stalled Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project.
Launched in 2017, the FCAS program aims to replace France’s Rafale and the Eurofighter jets flown by Germany and Spain. But the scheme, jointly developed by the three countries, has stalled amid growing disagreements between Dassault and Airbus, which represent German and Spanish interests, thus blocking progress on the €100 billion ($118 billion) project, originally planned to enter service by 2040.
Dassault chief: 'We can do it from A to Z'
Asked if Dassault could develop the fighter independently, CEO Eric Trappier said, “The answer is yes.”
“I don’t mind if the Germans are complaining. If they want to do it on their own, let them do it on their own,” Trappier said during a factory opening in Cergy-Pontoise.
He emphasized Dassault’s long experience, saying, “We know how to do everything from A to Z. We have proven this over the past 70 years. We have the skills.”
While stressing Dassault remained open to cooperation, Trappier demanded that France take the lead, saying, “Give us the ability to drive the programme. In terms of governance, I will not accept three people sitting around a table deciding on all the technical aspects of flying a high-level aircraft.”
Airbus pushback, political pressure
Tensions between the two aerospace giants have alarmed European leaders. In August, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius urged Paris to break the deadlock, warning, “The project cannot tolerate any more delay.”
Airbus has cast doubt on Dassault’s role, with Thomas Pretzl, head of the Airbus Defence works council, telling Handelsblatt, “FCAS will go ahead without Dassault. There are more attractive and suitable partners in Europe.”
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron have pledged to keep the project alive, alongside Spain. The three countries will hold talks in Berlin in October to seek a breakthrough.
Competition from UK-led project
The Franco-German-Spanish project also faces competition from the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a rival sixth-generation fighter project led by Britain, Italy, and Japan, which aims to field its aircraft by 2035.
Analysts say Europe risks falling behind unless the FCAS impasse is resolved soon.
