Germany's Chancellor Questions FCAS Fighter Jet Program, Citing Divergent Needs with France

Chancellor Merz Raises Concerns Over FCAS Viability

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has publicly questioned the necessity of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) fighter jet in its current design, introducing new uncertainty into the ambitious Franco-German-Spanish defense initiative. Speaking on the German podcast 'Machtwechsel' around February 18-19, 2026, Merz emphasized that the core issue was a 'technical' rather than 'political' dispute, stemming from fundamentally different military requirements between Germany and France.

Divergent Military Requirements Highlighted

The Chancellor articulated a clear distinction in operational needs, stating, 'The French need, in the next generation of fighter jets, an aircraft capable of carrying nuclear weapons and operating from an aircraft carrier. That's not what we currently need in the German military.' France is developing a successor to its Charles de Gaulle aircraft carrier and seeks a navalized FCAS variant. Conversely, Germany lacks a carrier fleet and does not require such capabilities. Merz suggested that carrier compatibility imposes design constraints, particularly concerning size, weight, and structural reinforcement, which could negatively impact the range and payload crucial for Germany's land-based 'deep precision strike' priorities.

FCAS: A Troubled €100 Billion Project

The FCAS program, estimated to cost €100 billion, was initially launched in 2017 as a joint initiative between France and Germany, with Spain joining in 2019. Belgium also became an observer in June 2023 and joined in May 2024, though it is now reviewing its position. The project aims to develop a 'system of systems' comprising a Next-Generation Fighter (NGF), remote carrier vehicles (swarming drones), and a 'combat cloud' for advanced data sharing. Its primary goal is to replace France's Rafale and Germany's and Spain's Eurofighters by approximately 2040, although this timeline is increasingly viewed as unrealistic, with some projections extending to 2045 or even 2050.

The program has been consistently hampered by industrial rivalries and disagreements over work share and leadership, primarily between France's Dassault Aviation (leading the NGF pillar) and Airbus, which represents German and Spanish interests.

Future Outlook and Potential Alternatives

Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury acknowledged the program is at a 'difficult juncture' but noted that other components, such as the combat cloud, remote drone carriers, and engine development, are progressing well. Merz has floated the possibility of developing two separate aircraft tailored to national needs, a 'two-fighter solution' that Airbus has indicated it would support if mandated by its customers. Insiders suggest that Germany and France might abandon the joint development of the fighter jet component while continuing cooperation on drones and the combat cloud.

Should the current FCAS fighter jet plan falter, Germany could explore alternative partnerships. Options include joining the British-Italian-Japanese Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), also known as Tempest, or pursuing an upgraded version of the Eurofighter. France, for its part, remains publicly committed to FCAS, with President Emmanuel Macron expected to engage in detailed discussions with Chancellor Merz. Paris has also signaled that a reconsideration of the joint fighter project by Berlin could lead to a reassessment of the joint Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) tank program.

A decision on the future of FCAS is anticipated soon, possibly by the end of February or early March.