Overview

• Chief executive Eric Trappier said Dassault could develop the new fighter on its own and demanded the lead role as program 'architect'.
• Trappier rejected technical decisions made in a three-way setup and said any solo path would ultimately be a decision for the French government.
• Airbus said it remains committed to FCAS and to the agreements already reached, even as company-level talks with Dassault continue without a compromise.
• German media reported Berlin is examining options that could exclude France, including potential work with Sweden or the United Kingdom or proceeding with Spain, though Defence Minister Boris Pistorius said there are no talks among the three countries.
• The standoff centers on leadership, supplier choice, intellectual property and exports, with Germany rejecting reports of a dominant Dassault workshare and leaders in Paris and Berlin urging a solution by year-end.