European Future Combat Air System Faces Governance Challenges Amid Industrial Disputes

Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury has expressed confidence in the European Future Combat Air System (FCAS) despite ongoing tensions with Dassault Aviation. The program, launched in 2017, aims to deliver a ‘system of systems’ centered on a next-generation fighter, supported by collaborative drones and a networked combat cloud. However, industrial disputes between Airbus Germany and Dassault have stalled progress. Meanwhile, alternative paths, such as the GCAP, have emerged as credible options. Defense ministers from France, Germany, and Spain will meet on December 11, 2025, to discuss the future of FCAS.