France and Germany abandon joint project to build European fighter jet
The governments will keep developing the Combat Cloud, a digital network linking aircraft, drones and sensors, after the joint fighter jet was scrapped.
- French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz agreed to abandon their joint $116 billion next-generation fighter jet project, concluding during the EU-Western Balkans summit in Montenegro that months of deadlock remained unbreakable.
- Launched in 2017 by Macron and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel, the program struggled with technological specifications and control disputes between Dassault Aviation and Airbus, while Merz questioned the necessity of a nuclear-capable jet for Germany.
- Failure to reach consensus reflects Europe's broader struggle to rebuild military capacity; while the core fighter is cancelled, officials aim to preserve the "combat cloud," a "nervous system that networks aircraft, drones, and other components into an integrated whole."
- This decision weakens European efforts to present a united defense front against Russia, marking a significant setback for integrated defense cooperation as nations contend with souring ties with the United States.
- Leaders are seeking a face-saving solution to rebrand remaining systems under the Future Combat Air System name, allowing officials to relinquish the core fighter without declaring the entire project dead.
234 Articles
234 Articles
Taipei Times
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