Germany is considering the possibility of withdrawing France from the flagship 6th generation fighter program, the Future Combat Air System (FCAS).
According to the Financial Times, due to growing disagreements over the project, Berlin is considering further actions, including cooperation with alternative partners, such as the United Kingdom or Sweden.
According to three sources familiar with the situation, Germany and Spain, which is the third partner in the FCAS, could also develop the program independently, without France.
"Better an end with horror than horror without an end. The fighter will be with France or without it," one of the sources told the publication.
Another source familiar with the talks said it was "normal" for Berlin to consider options given the uncertainty surrounding the project after French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz set a deadline of the end of the year to resolve the crisis.
FCAS, he added, remains the best option, but Paris will have to get Dassault Aviation, the French industrial leader in the project, to stick to the original agreement.
At the same time, the FT notes, the collapse of the project would deal a serious blow to Europe's ambitions at a time when governments are seeking to strengthen their military capabilities to counter the threat from russia.
At the same time, the publication notes that finding new partners will not be easy. The UK, through BAE Systems, is already working with Italy and Japan as part of the Global Combat Air Program to create a new generation fighter. Another option for Germany in the event of France's withdrawal from the program would be to cooperate with Sweden, which could contribute to the FCAS through Saab, which produces the Gripen fighter jet.
Berlin could also act independently, working with Madrid, its Eurofighter partner, as well as the UK and Italy.
The program was launched by Berlin and Paris in 2017, with Madrid joining later. The program was conceived as a fighter that could effectively interact with drones, new-generation weapons and advanced communication systems.
However, France's Dassault, which plays a leading role in the development of the fighter, has said it wants to change the project management system, in particular, abandoning the "one country, one vote" principle and instead getting an 80% share. Thus, France can concentrate in its hands not only the development of the aircraft itself, but also other parts of the project, while Germany and Spain want to leave secondary systems. Obviously, Berlin is not satisfied with this position.
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