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Dassault Aviation CEO: giving ourselves two-to-three weeks to find deal on Franco-German fighter jet

Published by Global Banking & Finance Review

Posted on April 1, 2026

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· Last updated: April 1, 2026

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Dassault Aviation CEO: giving ourselves two-to-three weeks to find deal on Franco-German fighter jet
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PARIS, April 1 (Reuters) - The head of Dassault Aviation said he was giving his company between two-to-three weeks to see if a deal could be reached over salvaging the crisis-hit FCAS fighter jet

Dassault Aviation CEO Urges 2-3 Week Timeline for FCAS Jet Agreement

FCAS Fighter Jet Project Negotiations and Challenges

CEO's Statement on Agreement Timeline

PARIS, April 1 (Reuters) - The head of Dassault Aviation said he was giving his company between two-to-three weeks to see if a deal could be reached over salvaging the crisis-hit FCAS fighter jet project between France, Germany and Spain.

"We are giving ourselves two-to-three weeks to try and find an agreement," Dassault Aviation Chairman and CEO Eric Trappier told the War & Peace security conference in Paris.

European Defense Leadership Concerns

Questions on Project Leadership

"We all want the 'Europe of defence', but the question is - who is going to lead it?," added Trappier.

Project Background and Ongoing Disputes

Control Disputes and Stakeholder Interests

Dassault Aviation vs. Airbus

The plans to develop a futuristic air combat system have been consistently hit by disputes over control between Dassault Aviation and Airbus, and the interests of Germany and Spain in the 100-billion-euro ($115.9 billion) project.

($1 = 0.8631 euros)

Reporting Credits

(Reporting by John Irish;Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta)

Key Takeaways

  • FCAS is a €100 billion trilateral project among France, Germany and Spain, now mired in disputes between Dassault and Airbus over governance, IP and workshare (lemonde.fr).
  • Germany has even considered withdrawing or shifting to alternative programs such as GCAP, while Spain remains committed despite its marginal industrial role (defensemirror.com).
  • High-level political pressure has mounted—Macron and Merz have previously intervened, setting year-end deadlines to resolve the impasse, but internal mistrust persists (globalsecurity.org)

References

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the FCAS fighter jet project?
The FCAS project is a collaborative effort between France, Germany, and Spain to develop a next-generation air combat system.
Why is the FCAS project facing delays?
The project has been delayed due to disputes over control between Dassault Aviation and Airbus, and conflicting national interests.
What is the current timeline for reaching a deal on the FCAS project?
Dassault Aviation's CEO has given a 2-3 week timeframe to try and reach an agreement to salvage the project.
Which countries are involved in the FCAS project?
France, Germany, and Spain are the primary countries involved in the FCAS fighter jet project.

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