France and Germany have abandoned the fighter jet portion of the Future Combat Air System, a roughly $116 billion project launched in 2017 to develop a sixth-generation combat aircraft intended to replace France's Rafale fighter and Germany and Spain's Eurofighter fleets by 2040. The collapse marks a significant setback for European defense ambitions at a time when NATO allies have pledged historic increases in defense spending.
The program was envisioned as Europe's answer to future U.S. and Chinese airpower, combining stealth technology with advanced networking capabilities, artificial intelligence and accompanying drone aircraft. European leaders viewed it as a cornerstone of the continent's push for greater defense autonomy and a stronger domestic defense-industrial base.
"The German authorities considered that it was not possible to put further pressure on the companies concerned," the Élysée Palace, the office of French President Emmanuel Macron, said in a statement confirming the collapse.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative analysts say the program's failure underscores Europe's continued reliance on American military hardware and leadership. They argue that European nations have repeatedly proven unable to coordinate complex weapons programs, making U.S. partnerships essential for credible deterrence.
Defense hawks warn that the collapse comes at a dangerous time, with Russia's war in Ukraine ongoing and Chinese military capabilities expanding rapidly. They say Europe cannot afford to fall behind technologically while relying on the United States to fill gaps in capability.
German War Minister Boris Pistorius offered a blunt assessment of the failed effort. "With what we know today, we would no longer launch this project in the way it was originally set up," he said, describing FCAS as "an ambitious European project" that had "crashed into reality." He attributed the collapse largely to tensions between Airbus and Dassault and differing military requirements between partner nations.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz had publicly questioned whether Germany would even need a manned sixth-generation fighter by 2040 and argued that Berlin's requirements differed from France's, which wanted a future jet capable of carrying nuclear weapons and operating from aircraft carriers.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive critics of the program argued that the FCAS failure reflects deeper structural problems with European defense cooperation rather than a setback for peace. They note that escalating military spending diverts resources from social programs and that the program's $116 billion price tag could have been directed toward diplomatic solutions to ongoing conflicts.
Some progressive analysts argue that Europe's focus should shift toward defensive capabilities and multilateral security frameworks rather than advanced offensive weapons systems. They point to the growing calls within NATO for burden-sharing as an opportunity to prioritize non-military forms of deterrence, including cyber defense and intelligence cooperation.
Environmental groups have also raised concerns about the carbon footprint of major weapons programs, arguing that military modernization efforts should account for climate commitments. The collapse of FCAS could open space for debate about whether Europe needs advanced fighter jets at all given evolving threats.
What the Numbers Show
The FCAS program represented one of Europe's largest defense investments, with an estimated total cost of $116 billion over its lifetime. The project began in 2017 with the goal of fielding operational aircraft by 2040.
Sixth-generation fighters are expected to combine stealth technology, artificial intelligence, advanced sensors, networking systems and teams of accompanying drones. Military planners view them as the future of air combat and a key capability in potential conflicts involving major powers such as China or Russia.
The collapse is not an isolated incident. France and Germany have also struggled to maintain momentum on the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS), a next-generation tank project, while several other joint defense efforts have faced delays, restructuring or cancellation in recent years.
NATO members have committed to increasing defense spending to at least 2% of gross domestic product, with many nations planning significant expansions of military capabilities. The United States has pushed European allies to take on greater responsibility for continental defense.
Germany's War Minister said Berlin is already evaluating alternatives following the program's collapse. "One is ordering more F-35s as a bridge solution or for whatever reason," Pistorius told reporters, noting other options include joining another international fighter program or pursuing a separate effort under German leadership with Airbus and other partners.
The Bottom Line
The Future Combat Air System failure represents the latest example of Europe's struggle to convert political commitments to military self-sufficiency into large-scale multinational defense programs. The collapse raises fresh questions about whether Europe can translate promises of rearmament into the complex weapons systems needed to compete with the United States and China.
Douglas Barrie, senior fellow for military aerospace at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, told Reuters: "It's hardly ideal signalling either to Washington or to Moscow."
France's Élysée Palace said that despite the setback, French authorities will continue encouraging European defense cooperation. "The French authorities will continue to encourage our companies and armed forces to explore ways and means of pursuing ambitious European projects that are consistent with our national security interests," the statement read.
The collapse also raises questions about other major European defense initiatives. With Germany already considering F-35 purchases as a bridge solution, the failure may accelerate European reliance on American military hardware rather than reduce it.