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5h ago

Merz, Macron Set Year-End Decision on FCAS as Governance Rift Deepens

A leadership and work-share dispute is stalling the demonstrator phase, prompting Berlin to weigh fallback options.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stands next to French President Emmanuel Macron as he welcomes him for bilateral talks at Villa Borsig in Berlin, Germany July 23, 2025. REUTERS/Lisi Niesner/File Photo
Members of the military work on PA-200 Tornado combat aircraft at an air base of German army Bundeswehr, in Buechel, Germany, July 18, 2024. REUTERS/Thilo Schmuelgen/File Photo
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Overview

  • German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he and President Emmanuel Macron agreed to decide the programme’s future by year-end, adding it will not be settled at this week’s consultations in southern France.
  • Berlin attributes the impasse to French industry demands for dominant control, with a reported request for roughly 80% of the work-share by France.
  • Defence sources warn the rift threatens the start of Phase 2, which aims to build airworthy demonstrators that had been targeted for the end of the year.
  • A senior German lawmaker urged a swift choice to proceed or exit and floated alternatives such as ordering 60 additional Eurofighters by 2029, exploring GCAP participation, or partnering with another country like Sweden.
  • FCAS is a multibillion-euro effort exceeding €100 billion that involves Dassault Aviation, Airbus and Indra to field a sixth-generation system to replace Rafale and Eurofighter fleets from around 2040.