Overview

• An unnamed French official told AFP that Paris is prepared to pursue the next‑generation combat aircraft on its own if a reorganization deal with Germany and Spain cannot be reached.
• Dassault Aviation chief Éric Trappier said the company can build the aircraft "from A to Z," reinforcing France’s readiness to go it alone.
• Negotiations over governance and workshare between Dassault and Airbus are blocked, with Dassault seeking greater autonomy as the designated master industrial integrator.
• France’s defence ministry says partners remain committed to a cooperative solution with Spain by year‑end, while reporting indicates Berlin is considering alternative partners such as Sweden or the United Kingdom.
• Phase 2 is slated for 2026 to build a demonstrator targeted to fly around 2029 at a cost of about €5 billion, with the French Senate placing total programme costs at a minimum of €50 billion and Paris citing schedule pressure linked to its nuclear deterrence role.