The common fighter jet of Europe, a "crashed" project. France and Germany abandon the FCAS program, one of the most ambitious European military projects.

France and Germany have announced the abandonment of the FCAS (Future Combat Air System) program, an ambitious project launched in 2017, aimed at developing a next-generation fighter jet.

The decision comes at a critical moment for Europe, which is seeking to strengthen its strategic autonomy in the context of the war in Ukraine. The main cause of the failure was the inability of the companies involved, Dassault Aviation and Airbus, to reach an agreement on the leadership of the program and intellectual property rights. The divergences were amplified by France's requirements for a platform capable of operating from aircraft carriers and transporting nuclear weapons, deemed unnecessary by Germany.

Although the main component of FCAS is being abandoned, the development of the "Combat Cloud" digital network will continue. The Defense Ministries of the two countries will draft a new cooperation plan, and Airbus may seek new partnerships, while Dassault may continue the development of the Rafale aircraft independently.