European Union, Defense Spending, Fighter Jets, France, Germany

Germany and France are working to resolve a long-standing industrial dispute over the New Generation Fighter (NGF) element of Europe’s Future Combat Air System (FCAS). The dispute centers on NGF leadership and workshare, with Airbus supporting a two-fighter jet approach and Dassault preferring a single aircraft design. A final attempt at mediation is underway, with a goal of reaching an agreement by mid-April. This effort is part of a broader push to ensure the success of the FCAS program, which includes development of new weapons, drone swarms, sensors, and a ‘combat cloud’ communications network. The initiative is being led by French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, with the support of industry experts. The outcome of the negotiations will have significant implications for the European defense industry and the future of the NGF program. This article was first reported by Breaking Defense.