"Airbus has suggested splitting Europe's faltering future fighter jet programme into two separate warplanes, amid a dispute between manufacturers over who leads the 100bn (87bn) project. The company's defence arm which represents Germany and Spain and the French partner, Dassault Aviation, are locked in a battle over the jet part of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a wide-ranging project that will also include autonomous drones and a futuristic combat communications cloud."
"Guillaume Faury, Airbus's chief executive, said on Thursday that the deadlock over the planned next-generation jet should not jeopardise the entire future of this hi-tech European capability, which will bolster our collective defence. If mandated by our customers, we would support a two-fighter solution and are committed to playing a leading role in such a reorganised FCAS delivered through European cooperation."
"Earlier this week the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, signalled that the planned warplane did not suit Germany's needs, in the latest blow to the project. The German military does not need a nuclear-capable fighter, while France does, he said on the German political podcast Machtwechsel, insisting it was not a political dispute but a technical one between the two countries."
Airbus proposes splitting the next-generation fighter component of the Future Combat Air System into two separate warplanes to resolve a leadership and capability stalemate. Airbus's defence arm represents Germany and Spain, while Dassault Aviation represents France, creating a dispute over who leads the fighter element of the 100bn (87bn) programme. FCAS also includes autonomous drones and a combat communications cloud. Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury offered conditional support for a two-fighter solution if required by customers. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said the planned warplane did not suit Germany, highlighting differing national requirements on nuclear capability. Governments must soon decide the fighter’s future.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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