Macron insists on Franco-German joint development and production of a new generation of fighter jets and combat tanks
France - French President Macron said on Wednesday that France and Germany must "stick to it" and continue to cooperate on the European fighter project. In the context of tense relations with Russia, Berlin and Paris have been committed to enhancing defense autonomy on the European continent.
Macron said in an interview with the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung: "Both sides' arms companies are competing for leadership." He said, "Therefore, we must stick to the approach that we believe is in the common interest of France and Germany, and continue to work to seek joint solutions."
The Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project was launched in 2017, aiming to replace France's Rafale fighter jet and the Eurofighter used by Germany and Spain.
However, the plan, which was jointly developed by the three countries, has stalled due to increasing differences between Dassault of France and Airbus, which represents the interests of Germany and Spain.
Macron also said that he and German Chancellor Merkel have asked the French and German defense ministers to review the project by the end of the year.
According to AFP, France and Germany are also seeking to jointly develop next-generation combat tanks equipped with artificial intelligence and laser technology, which are called game-changers in modern warfare. However, these plans also face delays due to competition between French and German companies.
Macron said that the fighter jet project and the advanced main battle tank known as the "Main Ground Combat System" (MGCS) still meet the two countries' "strategic needs."
He added that he "supports maximum integration, because we need to produce more products, and we need to do it at the European level."
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