Dassault CEO Warns FCAS Program Is ‘Dead’ If Airbus Dispute Not Resolved

Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier declared the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program faces an existential threat if disputes with Airbus remain unresolved, warning that “if Airbus maintains its position of not wanting to work with Dassault, then the project is dead.” The clash deepened after German Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggested Berlin may require different sixth-generation fighter capabilities than France, a position Trappier rejected, noting French authorities confirm operational requirements are identical. French President Emmanuel Macron, speaking from India, backed a unified European approach and cautioned that industrial friction should not determine strategic defense decisions. Trappier indicated Dassault would seek alternative partners if necessary, raising the prospect of separate French and German fighter development programs.