Germany considers replacing France in Europe’s defence jet project

Tensions over Europe’s Future Combat Air System (FCAS) fighter jet program have led Germany to consider replacing France with Sweden or the UK if no agreement is reached by year-end.

A joint program between France, Germany, and Spain is nothing new, but the scale of disappointment in Berlin signals danger for the program's future at a time when Europe is trying to bolster its defences to counter the growing threat from Russia, Politico informs.

Launched in 2017, the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program aims to replace Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon jets by 2040.

Sources said that the German Defence Ministry raised the FCAS issue last week during talks with Airbus, which is responsible for the German part of the aircraft's development and production.

The discussions revealed Berlin's dissatisfaction with what officials perceive as the French industry’s insistence on playing an overly dominant role in the program.

A trilateral gathering among defence ministers from Spain, Germany and France is scheduled for October. Technical meetings between industry, government officials and arms procurement agencies are regularly taking place despite France’s current political crisis to work on options to present to the ministers. 

By Vugar Khalilov