Germany and France have decided to cancel their joint next-generation fighter jet program, a project estimated to be worth around €100 billion. The initiative was regarded as one of Europe’s largest defense projects, with Spain also participating as a partner.
German officials stated that the decision was made after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron discussed the future of the program on the sidelines of the European Union Western Balkans summit. The two leaders concluded that the disputes among the industrial partners involved in the project could not be resolved.
The French Presidency said that both sides expressed regret over the failure of the program. According to reports, disagreements between the European aerospace company Airbus and the French manufacturer Dassault Aviation over technical responsibilities and industrial control were the primary reasons behind the project’s collapse.
The program was launched in 2017 with the backing of France and Germany and was intended to strengthen Europe’s defense capabilities. However, in recent years, disputes among the partners regarding authority, technical responsibilities, and industrial workshare had intensified.
Although the core element of the project the development of a new fighter aircraft has been cancelled, reports indicate that certain components, including drone development and the combat information network, may continue under a new framework and name.
The cancellation comes at a time when concerns over potential Russian threats have been growing and the United States has been urging European countries to further enhance their defense capabilities.
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Writer:Saeed Sameer
