US EditionMacron and Merz Meet to Address Dispute in €100 Billion FCAS Fighter Project
France and Germany aim to resolve a €100 billion dispute over FCAS fighter control and workshare by mid-April to prevent project collapse, officials said.
- Ahead of the European Union summit starting Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz are set to meet to discuss the crisis-hit FCAS fighter programme, according to sources.
- Initially launched by Macron and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel in 2017, the 100-billion-euro Franco-German-Spanish project aims to replace the Dassault Rafale and Airbus-backed Eurofighter by 2040.
- Dassault Aviation demands authority over the core fighter, while Airbus insists on maintaining equal partnership accords, with manufacturers falling out over control of the flying demonstrator phase.
- A potential collapse of the FCAS project could trigger reshuffling of European defense alliances, with Sweden's Saab Gripen or the GCAP fighter project involving Britain, Japan, and Italy emerging as alternatives.
- Macron dismissed concerns that industrial friction should dictate state policy, stating, "Should that decide the strategy of states? The answer is no.
34 Articles
34 Articles
French President Emmanuel Macron announced an attempt on Thursday to save a joint military aircraft program with Germany. Macron said German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had agreed to a mission to mediate a dispute between the companies involved.
Germany and France wanted to build a new fighter aircraft, but the project is not progressing. The companies involved are divided. The chancellor hopes for a final mediation attempt.
As the towel burns between Dassault Aviation and Airbus on the European SCAF combat aircraft project, Paris and Berlin launch a "comparison mission" whose main aim will be to find "convergence routes".
This programme has been blocked for months because of Franco-German industrial tensions between the two aeronautics giants.
ledauphine.com
The future European combat aircraft project divides Dassault and Airbus recently. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz are trying to reconcile the two companies.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 40% of the sources are Center
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
