Airbus prepares for uncertainties in the European fighter jet project

Investing.com - Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury stated that the company is prepared for various outcomes of the struggling Future Air Combat System project, including the possibility of developing fully independent French and German-led fighter jet programs.

Faury told France’s BFM TV on Friday that he hopes Europe can continue joint development of a new fighter jet but acknowledged that the company is ready for different scenarios. He reiterated that splitting the project into two aircraft remains an option, while also questioning how much cooperation can be maintained across a broader system.

The Future Air Combat System is a €100 billion ($118 billion) project aimed at developing a fighter jet supported by armed drones and secure links. The project faces threats from competition between French Dassault Aviation and Airbus, which represents Germany and Spain. Disputes over work shares and technological rights have caused tensions among the partners.

On Thursday, Faury publicly acknowledged for the first time that the core of the Future Air Combat System project might be split into two independent fighters operating within the same framework.

In subsequent comments to the business channel, Faury outlined multiple options, ranging from a core model series with shared technology to a complete separation with France and Germany pursuing entirely independent routes.

Using Airbus’s commercial aircraft portfolio as an example, Faury pointed out that the A350-900 and A350-1000 are two different aircraft but share a high degree of commonality. He compared this to European fighters without shared components, describing it as a possible outcome for the project.

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