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3w ago

France Signals Solo Path on Future Fighter as SCAF Negotiations Stall

A year-end decision on governance now looms under mounting budget pressure.

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Un modèle d'un futur système aérien de combat (SCAF), un avion européen développé par Dassault Aviation, exposé dans la cour de l'Elysée, à Paris, le 22 janvier. 2023.
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Overview

  • An anonymous French official told AFP that Paris is prepared to develop the next-generation combat aircraft alone if talks with Germany and Spain fail.
  • Dassault CEO Éric Trappier said the company can design, build and produce the fighter "from A to Z," rejecting a three-way parity governance model.
  • Talks are blocked over governance and workshare between Dassault for France and Airbus for Germany and Spain, preventing the launch of Phase 2.
  • Germany and Spain want a resolution by the end of 2025, with reports indicating Berlin is weighing other partners such as Sweden or the UK, and defense ministers plan to meet in October.
  • The demonstrator phase is slated to start in 2026 with a first flight around 2029, requiring roughly €5 billion, while total program costs are estimated between €50–100 billion and face competitive pressure from GCAP.