Dassault Aviation warned that the €100bn Franco-German Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project faces collapse unless Airbus resolves its disputes with the French fighter-jet maker. The project, initiated in 2017, aims to develop a next-generation fighter jet scheduled to enter service by 2040 as part of Europe's defence industry strategy.

Dassault chief executive Éric Trappier accused Airbus of blocking progress and refusing to accept French leadership on the jet's development. The disagreement centers on how to divide work on the project's central pillar. Trappier stated bluntly that if Airbus maintains its position of not wanting to work with Dassault, the matter is dead, describing the project as being in real difficulty.

French President Emmanuel Macron has pushed to keep the project on track, which was originally agreed with former German chancellor Angela Merkel. However, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently dampened French optimism, noting that the two countries have fundamentally different views on the jet's specifications that are difficult to overcome. Airbus did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Trappier's statements.