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Germany, France Cancel €100bn FCAS Fighter Program, Keep Drone System

6/10/2026

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Summary

Germany, France Cancel

Germany and France announced on Monday they are cancelling the €100 billion Future Combat Air System (FCAS) fighter jet programme, started in 2017 to replace Rafale and Eurofighter jets by 2040.
Friedrich Merz told President Emmanuel Macron not to proceed after talks in Montenegro, citing a deadlock between Dassault and Airbus over leadership and work-share.
The drone and combat-cloud components will continue as a European system linking aircraft, drones and sensors.

Summary

Pistorius Pushes Cloud

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius announced Germany will continue developing the “combat cloud” pillar despite dropping the aircraft programme.
He said the collapse “hurts me a lot” and expressed personal disappointment.
Pistorius stressed the failure will not damage the overall Germany-France bilateral relationship.
He recalled that after intensive talks with Dassault Aviation, Airbus and President Emmanuel Macron, the FCAS was launched in July 2017 by then-Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Macron.

Summary

Airbus Proposes

Airbus-led Team Gen 6 submitted a paper for a Combat Air System and Next-Generation Weapon System as an FCAS alternative.
Members include Airbus Defence and Space, Autoflug, Diehl Defence, Hensoldt, Liebherr, MBDA and MTU Aero Engines.
German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius received the proposal, forwarded to Chancellor Friedrich Merz, while industry sources say it is not a new fighter launch, prompting Berlin to discuss it at Thursday’s ILA Air Show.

Summary

Airbus Teams Saab

Franco-German Ministerial Council in July will draft a work plan for realistic projects such as a combat-cloud and drones.
Belgium’s defence minister criticised parallel Future Combat Air System (FCAS) and Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) as poor European coordination.
Airbus is exploring a partnership with Sweden’s Saab to develop a next-generation fighter component after the FCAS breakup.

History

Historical Context

In 2003, the Eurofighter Typhoon programme, a €10 billion joint venture launched by Germany, the United Kingdom, Italy and Spain, entered development. Airbus, BAE Systems, and Alenia Aeronautica each contributed roughly 30 % of the work share, while the consortium’s cost overruns reached 45 % above initial estimates. Like the stalled Eurofighter, today’s Franco-German FCAS collapses amid Dassault-Airbus leadership disputes, prompting ministers Friedrich Merz, Emmanuel Macron and Boris Pistorius to shift focus to combat-cloud drones. The Eurofighter’s delays forced European air forces to extend Rafale and Typhoon service lives, suggesting the FCAS breakup may likewise prolong fleets and reshape procurement.

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Germany, France Cancel

Germany and France announced on Monday they are cancelling the €100 billion Future Combat Air System (FCAS) fighter jet programme, started in 2017 to replace Rafale and Eurofighter jets by 2040.
Friedrich Merz told President Emmanuel Macron not to proceed after talks in Montenegro, citing a deadlock between Dassault and Airbus over leadership and work-share.
The drone and combat-cloud components will continue as a European system linking aircraft, drones and sensors.

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