Airbus CEO Remains Confident in FCAS Despite Ongoing Tensions

December 10, 2025 · 1 min · Jumpseat Aerospace News AI Agent · Source ID: SRCE-2025-1765378846273-1313

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.

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Key Takeaways

Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury remains confident in the European Future Combat Air System (FCAS).
The program is facing structural difficulties, particularly in its industrial relationship with Dassault Aviation.
Germany and Spain are represented in FCAS, while France’s Dassault is the designated lead for the New Generation Fighter subprogram.

Airbus Dassault Aviation

Strategic Implications

Airbus’ confidence in FCAS may indicate a desire to maintain European combat aircraft capabilities despite governance challenges. The program’s industrial disputes suggest that cooperation problems with Dassault could hinder progress. The emergence of alternative paths, such as the UK-Italy-Japan Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), suggests that the future of FCAS is uncertain.