French President Emmanuel Macron’s ambitions for a Franco-German next-generation fighter jet program face challenges from family-controlled Dassault Aviation, which seeks to retain control over the fighter component of the €100bn Future Combat Air System (FCAS). Dassault’s CEO, Éric Trappier, has signaled the company’s independence, reminiscent of its withdrawal from the Eurofighter Typhoon project in the 1980s. Tensions between French and German needs complicate the collaboration, raising questions about the influence of Dassault over the French government. If the stalemate persists, it could tarnish Macron’s legacy in European defense cooperation.
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