Reference News Network September 21 report, according to the website of the UK's Financial Times on September 19, Germany is considering abandoning France as a partner in its flagship jet fighter project. The project was originally intended to demonstrate European defense cooperation.

Berlin is weighing how to proceed with the project, including collaboration with alternative partners such as the UK or Sweden. This indicates increasing divisions around the Future Combat Air System (FCAS). Disputes over how to advance the second phase of the project have cast doubt on the project's future prospects.

According to three people familiar with the matter, Germany and Spain, the third partner in the FCAS project, may also proceed with the project independently without French participation.

"It's better to end it in dislike than to be stuck in endless dislike," said one person familiar with the situation. "There will be a (jet) fighter, whether or not France is involved."

Another person said that exploring various options in light of the project's uncertainty is "normal." Previously, French President Macron and German Chancellor Merkel set the end of the year as the deadline for resolving the crisis.

The FCAS project was launched by Berlin and Paris in 2017, and Madrid later joined. From the start, the project has been fraught with tensions among industry partners, particularly between Airbus, representing Germany, and Dassault Aviation, representing France. Indra Systems from Spain is also a partner.

The project's concept is to develop a fighter jet capable of seamlessly cooperating with drones, next-generation weapons, and advanced communication systems.

Dassault, which developed France's Rafale fighter jet, plays a leading role in the jet fighter part of the project. It expressed a desire to change the project's management structure, especially the "one country, one vote" principle, and believes it should have more freedom in the pilot phase of the second stage. However, Airbus insists that all three partners have agreed to the current management structure.

Airbus stated that it still "is committed to the success of the FCAS project and complies with all agreements reached by the project's partners so far."

Merz and Macron held a one-day summit in Toulon in August, and French and German defense officials discussed ways to resolve internal conflicts.

However, finding new partners is not easy. The UK is working with Italy and Japan through BAE Systems on the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), developing the next-generation jet fighter. If the FCAS project fails, Germany may lobby to join GCAP. However, industry experts say that given the project's level of advancement, both sides are unlikely to establish a full partnership. (Translated by Ma Dan)

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