Germany and France have officially terminated their collaborative effort to develop the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a next-generation fighter jet project. This decision was announced by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz during the ILA 2026 aerospace exhibition in Berlin.
Chancellor Merz indicated that both nations had invested considerable effort to facilitate an agreement among the involved companies, but ultimately concluded that consensus on the joint combat aircraft could not be reached. He stated, “President Macron and I truly made significant efforts regarding the creation of a Franco-German combat aircraft. For months, we made several attempts to persuade the involved companies to reach an agreement.”
“Last Friday, President Macron and I agreed that we no longer aim to create a joint combat aircraft. This way, we are lifting a long-standing blockade and opening up new opportunities for our industries to advance in the development of modern combat aircraft through other means,” said Merz.
Despite the cessation of the fighter jet project, Merz confirmed that Germany and France will continue to collaborate on a key component of the FCAS, referred to as the “System of Systems.” This framework aims to integrate combat platforms, sensors, and weapons through a unified digital combat network.
“We will continue to implement the core of FCAS as a European System of Systems. This presents a significant opportunity for a central Franco-German defense industrial project for the future that we wish to pursue together,” Merz added.
The defense ministers of both countries are expected to develop a new cooperation mechanism ahead of an intergovernmental summit scheduled for July.
Following the termination of the FCAS program, there are reports suggesting that Germany may consider acquiring additional American-made F-35 fighter jets. According to sources, this option appears to be the most likely, involving the procurement of at least 45 additional aircraft.
The FCAS initiative, launched in 2017, aimed to create a sixth-generation fighter jet and an associated “combat cloud” of both manned and unmanned platforms. This project was intended to replace the French Rafale and the German-Spanish Eurofighter. A significant point of contention had been the dispute between Dassault Aviation and Airbus over control and leadership of the program.
Germany and France have decided to discontinue their joint FCAS fighter jet project, shifting focus to a collaborative 'System of Systems' approach while exploring alternative defense capabilities. The decision reflects ongoing challenges in achieving consensus among involved companies and opens new avenues for defense cooperation between the two nations.
Source: Ukrinform