France and Germany to Launch Initial Contracts for Future Combat Jets – Reuters

PARIS (Reuters) – France and Germany are set to announce a 65 million euro ($74 million) agreement on Wednesday, jointly funded by both nations over the next two years. This marks the beginning of a collaborative initiative to develop a next-generation combat jet, according to a source from the French military.

Dassault Aviation and Airbus, the companies tasked with designing the aircraft, aim to replace Dassault’s Rafale and Germany’s Eurofighters by 2024. They will commence work on the program’s concept and architectural design, as stated by the source.

Demonstrators for both the aircraft and its engine are anticipated to be unveiled by mid-2019.

The initiative, known as the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), was initially revealed by French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel in July 2017. This program will integrate a new fighter jet alongside a variety of supporting weapons systems, including unmanned drones.

With almost two years of preparatory efforts from the involved companies, the signing of agreements and contracts on Wednesday will facilitate a more robust commitment to the project.

Airbus and Dassault are poised to begin work on the new fighter now that initial contracts are forthcoming. French firm Safran and Germany’s MTU Aero Engines are expected to collaborate on developing the engine for the aircraft, while French electronics company Thales and European missile manufacturer MBDA are also expected to contribute.

The signing ceremony will be overseen by French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly and German Defence Minister Ursula von der Leyen at a Safran facility in northeastern Paris.

Recent developments have aided the project significantly. Last week, Germany addressed French concerns by eliminating Lockheed Martin’s F-35 stealth fighter from a significant tender meant to replace aging Tornado jets capable of carrying U.S. nuclear weapons. France had warned that acquiring the F-35 could jeopardize plans for the new Franco-German fighter, as it would pose a potential competitive threat.

In the coming months, Spain is anticipated to join the initiative as a full partner, building on previous discussions. Meanwhile, Britain plans to unveil its own combat aircraft development program, dubbed Tempest, at an airshow this summer.

European military and industry leaders suggest that merging these two aircraft development programs could be beneficial given the international competition and the substantial funding needed for developing advanced combat aircraft. The French military source remarked that both France and Germany are receptive to including additional European partners in the program.