Europe's Ambitious Fighter Jet Project Collapses After Years of Disputes

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Berlin: France and Germany have abandoned their joint plan to develop a next-generation fighter jet after years of disagreements between the companies leading the project, dealing a major blow to Europe's defence ambitions.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to scrap the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) after manufacturers Dassault Aviation and Airbus failed to resolve longstanding disputes over the programme, officials from both countries confirmed on Monday.

Launched in 2017, the FCAS project was intended to develop a new fighter aircraft to replace France's Rafale jets and Germany's Eurofighters by around 2040. Valued at more than €100 billion ($115 billion), it had been seen as a symbol of deeper European defence cooperation.

However, the project became mired in disagreements over leadership, intellectual property rights and the aircraft's design requirements. French defence company Dassault sought greater control over the programme, leading to repeated clashes with Airbus Defence and Space.

The collapse comes at a time when European nations are seeking to strengthen their military capabilities amid growing concerns over Russia's actions and calls from the United States for Europe to take greater responsibility for its own security.

Despite previously expressing support for the project, Merz acknowledged the need for Germany's defence industry to pursue other partnerships. France and Germany now plan to shift their focus towards developing a "Combat Cloud" system designed to connect aircraft, drones and sensors on the battlefield.

The decision has drawn mixed reactions, with some German lawmakers backing the move while others described it as a significant setback for European defence integration.