German officials warn that delaying a decision on whether to continue participating could make the project's future increasingly uncertain, with some suggesting Germany might consider ordering additional Eurofighter jets to replace aging Tornado aircraft instead.

The German defense ministry has not issued an immediate comment, but opposition members are calling for better industry dialogue to resolve ongoing issues.

A collapse of FCAS would be a setback for political leaders like Macron and Merz, undermining ambitions to make Germany the EU's top military power and weakening EU defense initiatives.

Tensions have centered on project leadership conflicts between Dassault and Airbus Defence, with Dassault's CEO Éric Trappier pushing for a dominant role, even considering independent development.

If FCAS fails, France and Germany might join the UK's Tempest project within the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), though this would involve complex negotiations and limit their influence.

The €100 billion Future Combat Air System (FCAS) fighter jet project, a joint effort between France and Germany involving Dassault Aviation, Airbus, and Indra, is facing significant disagreements over workshare, intellectual property rights, and project leadership, which threaten its future.

French industry is accused of blocking the project's next phase by demanding sole leadership, risking delays in developing airworthy demonstrators scheduled for the end of 2025, and straining Franco-German relations.

Amid these disagreements, some experts suggest that Germany and France could consider parting ways if it better serves their national or European interests, and explore collaboration with other countries like Sweden.

High-level talks involving French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz are scheduled for the Mediterranean coast on August 29-30 to address these disputes and decide the project's future.

France's financial constraints limit its ability to pursue alternative options independently, and restarting a sixth-generation fighter from scratch would be prohibitively expensive for most countries.

Germany plans to order an additional 60 Eurofighter jets by 2029 to replace its Tornado fleet and is exploring alternative development options for a next-generation fighter, possibly including cooperation with Sweden or other partners.

Ultimately, political will, rather than corporate interests, will determine whether the FCAS project continues, as governments hold the financial and strategic leverage.