Airbus CEO Confident in Germany’s Commitment to FCAS Fighter Jet Project

Airbus Chief Executive Guillaume Faury, in a recent statement, has expressed confidence in Germany’s ongoing involvement in the Franco-German-Spanish Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project. This assertion comes amidst speculation stirred by a report in Britain’s Times newspaper, suggesting that Germany might consider exiting the FCAS project to join a competing initiative with Britain, Italy, and Japan, due to disagreements over design and financing aspects.

The FCAS project, known in France as SCAF and involving the development of a new combat jet, has Airbus as Germany’s industrial partner. Despite previous disagreements between Airbus and French partner Dassault Aviation (AM.PA) over the early stages of the program, Faury stated that there were no indications of Germany withdrawing from FCAS/SCAF. “On the ground, we see the exact opposite,” he remarked to reporters, underscoring his stance.

However, Faury expressed strong criticism of Germany’s stance on arms exports, particularly regarding the Eurofighter jets to Saudi Arabia. He highlighted the detrimental impact of Germany’s export restrictions on both the Eurofighter program and Germany’s reputation as an arms exporter. The Eurofighter, operational since 2003, is a collaborative effort between Germany, Italy, Britain, and Spain.

The contentious issue of defence exports has historically seen France and Germany on different pages, with Germany adopting a more conservative approach. This difference was highlighted in the aftermath of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi’s killing in 2018, leading to Berlin’s halt of arms sales to Saudi Arabia. Despite calls for a reversal, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, backed by the Greens’ opposition due to human rights concerns and Saudi Arabia’s involvement in the Yemen conflict, has maintained the export block.

Faury acknowledged a “positive trend” in discussions to resolve the issue but lamented the slow progress. “We are calling for clear and visible decisions on that topic,” he urged.

In the meantime, Saudi Arabia is reportedly negotiating with France for a potential order of Rafale jets, adding another layer of complexity to the ongoing discussions about Eurofighter exports.

The German government has yet to respond to these developments. A previous government spokesperson reiterated Germany’s commitment to both the FCAS/SCAF project and the Eurofighter’s advancement, following Chancellor Scholz’s affirmation of the same in a September speech.

Sources: AirGuide Business airguide.info, bing.com, airbus.com, reuters.com