Dassault Says It Can Build Europe’s Next-Gen Fighter Jet Without Germany

France’s Dassault Aviation signaled it could develop Europe’s future combat aircraft on its own, as tensions continue with Germany over the multi-billion-euro Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program. Speaking Tuesday Sep. 23 at the inauguration of a new factory in Cergy-Pontoise, Dassault CEO Eric Trappier said the company—builder of the Rafale fighter—has the skills and experience to deliver a sixth-generation jet without German participation.

“The answer is yes,” Trappier said when asked if Dassault could go solo on a future fighter. “I don’t mind if the Germans are complaining. If they want to do it on their own, let them do it on their own.”

Launched in 2017, FCAS is a joint project between France, Germany and Spain intended to replace the Rafale and Eurofighter jets in the 2040s. But the program has been plagued by delays and disagreements between Dassault and Airbus Defence and Space, which represents German and Spanish interests. In late August, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius warned that the program “cannot tolerate any more delay.”

Trappier stressed Dassault remains “completely open” to cooperation—including with Germany—but said France has the capability to proceed alone if necessary. “Here, we know how to do it. We know how to do everything from A to Z. We have proven this over the past 70 years. We have the skills,” he said.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said during a visit to Madrid last week that Germany and Spain hope to reach a breakthrough on the project by the end of 2025. “We share the same view: the current situation is not satisfactory, we are not making progress on this project,” Merz told reporters.

Representatives of France, Germany and Spain are scheduled to meet in Berlin in October to try to resolve the differences. The FCAS program is central to Europe’s push for greater defense autonomy amid heightened tensions with Russia, making its future a high-stakes test of European industrial and political cooperation.


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