France has reportedly notified Germany of its intention to claim an 80% stake in the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a trilateral next-generation fighter jet program that also includes Spain, according to Reuters.
Valued at over €100 billion ($117 billion), the FCAS initiative is being spearheaded by European defense giants Airbus, Dassault Aviation, and Indra.
France’s push for a larger share has raised concerns among its partners, potentially jeopardizing existing agreements and causing delays to the program’s next development phase, scheduled for later this year.
Germany’s defense ministry stated that the current intergovernmental agreements remain valid and directed further inquiries about France’s stance to French authorities.
While both Airbus and the French Defense Ministry declined to comment, Airbus reiterated its commitment to FCAS and the standing agreements.
Since its inception in 2017 by France and Germany—joined later by Spain—the program has faced ongoing tensions regarding workshare distribution and intellectual property rights among the partners.
