Overview
- Germany confirmed the year-end deadline passed without a decision on the Future Combat Air System and set no replacement timetable.
- A government spokesman said an extensive bilateral foreign and security agenda prevented president–chancellor-level consideration of the file.
- Talks remain blocked by industrial roles, intellectual property and governance, with reports that Dassault seeks about 80% control opposed by German expectations of parity.
- Envisioned to replace Eurofighter and Rafale around 2040 with Spain as a partner, FCAS combines a new manned fighter, networked drones and a shared Combat Cloud at a projected triple‑digit‑billion‑euro cost.
- Expert discussions have floated keeping separate national fighters and concentrating joint work on the Combat Cloud, while observers warn that failure would burden Franco‑German defense cooperation.