Mike Schoellhorn, head of Airbus Defence and Space, said the stalled Future Combat Air programme could shift to a two‑fighter approach after years of deadlock between France’s Dassault and Germany’s Airbus unit. Launched in 2017, the €100bn effort was designed for a single next‑gen jet linked to sensors, drones and a combat‑cloud network. The Ukraine war has forced a rethink of that core aircraft concept.

Germany and France remain at odds over work‑share and jet leadership, while Spain’s Indra Sistemas joins the wider system. Chancellor Friedrich Merz earlier questioned whether a single aircraft could satisfy Germany’s air‑dominance needs and France’s carrier and nuclear requirements. The dispute threatens timelines for replacing the Eurofighter and Rafale from 2040 onward. Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury warned peacetime assumptions no longer match today’s conflict‑driven specifications.

Schoellhorn said the decision rests with governments; he remains “supportive of finding a solution” but will not dictate policy. A split‑jet architecture could preserve the programme’s €100bn investment while allowing each nation to meet distinct operational goals. Investors will watch how the compromise shapes future orders for European combat aircraft and related technology contracts.