Berlin and Paris bury the SCAF fighter jet project

Germany and France have officially abandoned the SCAF, their joint project for a next-generation fighter jet. Launched in July 2017 during a Franco-German cabinet meeting chaired by Emmanuel Macron and Angela Merkel, this ambitious program estimated at 100 billion euros aimed to replace the air fleets of both countries by 2040. Berlin formalized this decision, specifying that it now wants to refocus defense industrial cooperation with Paris on a limited number of projects deemed realistic and relevant.

An inevitable industrial divorce

Strategic differences between Dassault and Airbus ultimately doomed the project. The French manufacturer, designated as prime contractor for the program, was never able to reach an agreement with its German counterpart despite years of negotiations. Industrial discussions quickly stalled over issues of technology sharing and leadership, revealing incompatible approaches to managing such a program. The failure of the SCAF (Future Combat Air System) is part of a series of tensions between the two countries on defense matters, with the joint main battle tank project announced simultaneously in 2017 also encountering major difficulties.

European autonomy in question

This cancellation represents a significant setback for European strategic autonomy. The SCAF was intended to embody Europe's ability to design its own advanced weapons systems, independently of the United States. The program's end now raises questions about the alternatives available to Paris and Berlin for modernizing their air forces. France could pursue a domestic development project led by Dassault, while Germany will have to choose between European solutions and American equipment.