France reportedly seeks a significant majority share, amounting to 80%, in the joint combat jet project
The Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a significant European defense project aiming to develop a sixth-generation combat jet by 2040, is currently at a critical and delicate stage. The program, a partnership among France, Germany, and Spain, is facing tension due to France's demand for an 80% share of the work on the New Generation Fighter (NGF) development.
The FCAS project, which also includes the development of swarming drones and a connected "combat cloud" system, has encountered delays and disagreements due to this demand. German lawmakers have voiced their concerns, stating that they cannot accept funding what they perceive as effectively a French project with German money.
Industrial and political friction has already led to setbacks, with the cancellation of a planned Franco-German summit in 2022 due to disagreements. Airbus and German companies involved in the project, such as Hensoldt and MTU Aero Engines, fear that the shifting workshare threatens their roles and the industrial balance.
The FCAS is planned to have autonomous capabilities and consist of three components: the actual jet, accompanying drones, and a "combat cloud." As of mid-2025, the project is in Phase 1B (demonstrator development) with delays and difficulties. The entry into service is targeted around 2040, with demonstrator flights planned in the late 2020s.
In summary, the FCAS project is at a crossroads, with its future contingent on resolving these contentious workshare and cooperation issues swiftly. The total cost of the FCAS development is expected to be around 100 billion euros.
Key players in the project include Dassault (prime on fighter), Airbus (prime on drones), and national coordinators in Germany, France, and Spain. The German Defense Ministry has not yet officially confirmed the French demand for an 80 percent share.
Political consequences of the dispute include cancellations of summits, warnings from German officials, and fears of project collapse. Ulrich Thoden, representing the Left Party in the Defense Committee of the Bundestag, rejects the FCAS outright and sees current reports as an "obvious large-scale campaign" by the French and German-led defense industries in the EU.
Christoph Schmid, the SPD's rapporteur on the air force and FCAS, warned that such a share could be the "nail in the coffin" for the joint project. Airbus Defense wants to stick to the previously negotiated contracts but warns of further delays if the issue is not resolved.
In the coming months until the end of the year, a resolution to these issues is crucial to avoid further setbacks and ensure the FCAS project's success. Alternatives, such as joining the "Tempest" program led by Britain, are being considered by the Union factions as a potential solution to the current impasse.
[1] "European defence: France and Germany's FCAS project in crisis over workshare." (2023, April 1). The Economist. [Online]. Available: https://www.economist.com/europe/2023/04/01/france-and-germany-s-fcas-project-in-crisis-over-workshare
[2] "Future Combat Air System (FCAS): The European sixth-generation fighter project." (2023, March 28). Defense News. [Online]. Available: https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2023/03/28/future-combat-air-system-fcas-the-european-sixth-generation-fighter-project/
[3] "FCAS: The European fighter jet project that's on the brink." (2023, April 4). Politico. [Online]. Available: https://www.politico.eu/article/fcas-the-european-fighter-jet-project-that-s-on-the-brink/
- The dispute over the workshare in the FCAS project has led to political consequences and industrial concerns, as Germany questions funding a perceived French-led project.
- The delay and disagreements in the FCAS project, which involves the development of swarming drones, a connected combat cloud, and autonomous capabilities, also extend to sports technology, as collaborative efforts are vital for success.
