German, French Ministers Differ Over Fighter Jet Decision Timeline

German and French Ministers Diverge on FCAS Fighter Jet Project Timeline

Dispute and Delays in the Franco-German FCAS Fighter Jet Project

BERLIN/PARIS, April 22 (Reuters) - Germany and France's defence ministers offered differing timelines on Wednesday for a decision on the Franco‑German FCAS fighter jet project, with one saying the two countries' leaders would decide soon and the other saying mediators had sought more time to discuss the matter.

Background of the FCAS Project

Plans to develop a futuristic air combat system together with Spain are hanging by a thread amid a public dispute over control between France's Dassault Aviation and Airbus, which represents Germany and Spain in the 100 billion euro ($117 billion) project.

Role of Mediators and Political Leaders

Mediators had sought to resolve the dispute by April 18, but those efforts appeared to have failed, leaving it ultimately in the hands of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron.

Statements from German and French Defence Ministers

"The decision rests with the heads of state," German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius told reporters. "I expect a decision to be made this week on how to proceed."

Merz and Macron are due to meet this week during a European summit in Cyprus.

But French Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin said during a parliamentary hearing that mediators, one from each country, had asked for more time.

"They were due to deliver their conclusions, to be precise, on 18 April. They requested an additional 10 days," Vautrin said.

Core Issues in the Dispute

The dispute centres on leadership of the core fighter element of plans to build an interconnected fleet of crewed planes and armed drones under a common digital umbrella.

Future Prospects and Political Implications

Insiders expect Germany and France to abandon development of the joint fighter jet but continue cooperation on drones and the so-called combat cloud, or digital backbone. But rowing back the plan is seen as politically awkward for Macron.

Key Issues Highlighted by Vautrin

Vautrin said there were three key issues: intellectual property, the allocation of responsibilities, referred to as workshare, and concerns regarding airworthiness certification.

Additional Information

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(Reporting by Sabine Siebold and John Irish; Editing by Miranda Murray and Hugh Lawson)