Airbus CEO: Dassault Free to Leave FCAS program

Guillaume Faury, CEO of Airbus, stated last week that Dassault Aviation is “free to leave” the FCAS fighter jet program if it is dissatisfied with governance decisions, underscoring the project’s current impasse.

The FCAS initiative, which brings together France, Germany, and Spain to develop a next-generation combat aircraft, has faced significant delays due to ongoing disagreements over program management between Dassault and Airbus.

Project governance remains the central issue, with France leading the program but Germany and Spain backing Airbus’s position in negotiations. These tensions have stalled the launch of the program’s second phase.

Dassault Aviation has asserted its claim to 51% of the overall project workload, while certain German sources have suggested Dassault seeks up to 80%, reflecting major disparities in expectations among the industrial partners.

Phase 2 of the FCAS program will remain on hold until the governance structure is resolved, leaving the future of one of Europe’s key defense collaborations in question.

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