Berlin is reportedly considering leaving the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) fighter programme amid frustration over work-share and French industry’s lead role.
German media, citing federal government sources, say that Berlin is looking at other options outside the FCAS project, such as perhaps joining the UK-Italy-Japan sixth-generation fighter venture. The argument is similar to prior disagreements in European military, such the one in the 1980s between the Dassault Rafale and the international Eurofighter Typhoon, when France left the joint program to make its own carrier-capable fighter.
People also refer to the failure of the MAWS maritime patrol aircraft plan, which happened when Germany picked the US Boeing P-8A Poseidon while France went after the Airbus A321MPA on its own.
Similar tensions have plagued other cooperative efforts, from the Tiger attack helicopter, where Germany focused on tank-hunter capabilities and France on multi-role operations, to the A400M transport and NH90 helicopter projects, both of which suffered delays and cost overruns as national requirements diverged.
Today FCAS—also involving Spain and Belgium—is intended to replace the Luftwaffe’s Eurofighters by mid-century, alongside Germany’s planned fleet of 35 US-built F-35A jets. Rising doubts about French dominance have raised speculation that Berlin might instead deepen its reliance on American aircraft or join the UK-led next-generation fighter effort.
