Overview
- Defence ministers Boris Pistorius, Catherine Vautrin and Margarita Robles meet in Berlin today to seek a path forward for the Future Combat Air System.
- The €100 billion-plus programme has stalled over long-running disputes between Dassault and Airbus on leadership, workshare and control of key technologies.
- Germany’s IG Metall warned it would stop cooperating if Dassault stays involved and urged Berlin to push for the French company’s removal, drawing a rejection from France’s metalworking employers’ group led by Dassault CEO Eric Trappier.
- Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said he still believes in the project but called it “an uphill battle,” citing unresolved cooperation and governance arrangements.
- Options under discussion include refocusing on Combat Cloud and unmanned systems or exploring alternatives such as the UK‑Italy‑Japan GCAP, with EU leaders meeting Dec 17‑19 and national leaders aiming for a decision by year-end.