Overview
- French president Emmanuel Macron and German chancellor Friedrich Merz agreed to stop pursuing a single, shared manned combat aircraft under the SCAF program.
- The leaders said the decision followed an industrial impasse between Dassault Aviation and Airbus over who would lead design, split workshare, and control intellectual property.
- The move on Monday orders the French and German defence ministries to draw up a focused, realistic workplan for cooperation that concentrates on a few achievable projects.
- Officials and industry sources say non‑aircraft elements of SCAF — notably interoperable drones and a secure tactical 'combat cloud' — may be preserved or jointly developed while countries pursue separate demonstrators.
- The aborted fighter pillar marks a major setback for European defence integration and could push Germany to seek alternative industrial partners while France explores national demonstrators, with wider consequences for costs, industrial roles, and future pan‑European projects.