France and Germany are ratcheting up pressure on their industrial champions to rescue Europe’s next-generation fighter as the 100-billion-euro ($115 billion) project teeters on the brink of collapse, sources close to the matter said.
The Future Combat Air System (FCAS), floated more than eight years ago, has been mired in disputes between France’s Dassault Aviation (AM.PA), opens new tab and Airbus (AIR.PA), opens new tab over workshare and prized technology.
Following talks last week between French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Berlin has drafted a “decision roadmap” as part of a mid-December deadline to strike a deal, sources told Reuters.
“The objective is that the CEOs of the participating industrial partners find and sign a written agreement on the core principles of cooperation for the next programme phase by mid-December,” the document reads, according to excerpts provided to Reuters.
A government source said the roadmap, which also tasks air force chiefs with a review of their respective requirements, was designed to reassert political control.

By Michel Rose