Macron Says Franco-German Fighter Jet Project "Has Not Failed"
According to a report by Reference News Network on April 27, the German news agency DPA reported on April 24 that amid concerns about the potential failure of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project led by France and Germany, French President Macron stated on the 24th that the troubled project has not failed.
At an informal meeting of EU leaders held in Cyprus, Macron responded to a question about whether the FCAS, jointly led by France, Germany, and Spain, had already failed by saying, “No, absolutely not.”
He added that he had constructive discussions with German Chancellor Merz regarding the project.
Macron stated that the defense ministries of both countries have been tasked to engage in consultations on various topics in the coming weeks, adding that this concerns not only the FCAS but also the overall security of Europe.
The FCAS is planned to be operational by 2040, designed to operate in conjunction with drones, ultimately replacing Germany's Eurofighter Typhoon and France's Dassault Rafale fighter jets.
Once realized, the FCAS will become the largest and most expensive military project in Europe, with total costs expected to reach hundreds of billions of euros.
However, the companies involved in the project—French Dassault Aviation, Airbus Germany, and Spanish Indra—have yet to reach a consensus on the manufacturing of the aircraft.
Recent rounds of negotiations have also failed to produce an acceptable solution for all parties. If the project fails, it will deal a significant blow to European defense cooperation and Franco-German bilateral relations. (Translated by Guo Jun)
French President Macron affirmed that the Franco-German fighter jet project (FCAS) has not failed during an informal EU leaders' meeting in Cyprus on April 24, 2023. He highlighted constructive discussions with German Chancellor Merz and emphasized the importance of the project for European security. The FCAS aims to be operational by 2040, replacing current fighter jets, but consensus among participating companies has yet to be reached.
- Macron stated that the FCAS project has not failed.
- Discussions are ongoing between France and Germany regarding the project.
- The FCAS is intended to replace existing fighter jets by 2040.
- The project involves significant financial investment, estimated in the hundreds of billions of euros.
- Failure of the project could impact European defense cooperation.