Why are Europe's biggest defense projects in trouble?

Europe wanted to build a joint next-generation fighter jet. Instead, the bloc's biggest defense project may now produce two separate warplanes. Airbus , which represents the German and Spanish side of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), told DW it is open to restructuring the program after years of political and industrial disputes.

That could include a "two-fighter solution" allowing France and Germany to develop separate combat aircraft while still cooperating on drones, sensors and the digital systems linking the battlefield in real time. The twist: the fighter jet itself may no longer be the project's most important part. The proposal marks a serious shift for a project once billed as a symbol of Franco-German military unity . To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video "On FCAS, work is ongoing with the French, German and Spanish governments to decide on the project's way forward," an Airbus spokesperson told DW. Airbus Chief Executive Guillaume Faury said the wider program still makes sense, even if the fighter jet at its center remains blocked. "The deadlock of a single pillar should not jeopardize the entire future of this high-tech European capability," he said, adding that Airbus would support a two-fighter option if governments asked for it. The dispute is now raising a wider question: Can Europe's biggest powers still build major weapons systems together? FCAS was launched by France and Germany in 2017, with Spain joining later. Valued at roughly €100 billion ($116 bn), the project aims to deliver a sixth-generation air combat system by around 2040. The program goes far beyond a next-generation fighter jet. It also includes drones, remote carriers, engines and a "combat cloud" designed to connect aircraft, sensors and battlefield data in real time. But the fighter jet itself has become the main source of friction.

Key points

• That could include a "two-fighter solution" allowing France and Germany to develop separate combat aircraft while still cooperating on drones, sensors and the digital systems linking the battlefiel…
• The twist: the fighter jet itself may no longer be the project's most important part.
• The proposal marks a serious shift for a project once billed as a symbol of Franco-German military unity .
• To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video "On FCAS, work is ongoing with the French, German and Spanish governments to decide on…
• Airbus Chief Executive Guillaume Faury said the wider program still makes sense, even if the fighter jet at its center remains blocked.