FT: Macron Is Caught Between Two Fires
- 11.02.2026, 12:40
Because of the development of the next generation fighter in Europe.
French President Emmanuel Macron has run into an obstacle in his ambitions to develop the flagship Franco-German next-generation fighter jet program, namely the country's medium-sized defense company, which was supposed to carry out his instructions. We are talking about the family company Dassault Aviation, which has had independent politics and influence since the 1950s, because it is the main supplier of French combat aircraft. This writes Financial Times.
"It famously abandoned another cross-border defense project in the 1980s - the Eurofighter Typhoon, which was later built by Britain, Italy, Germany and Spain - because it wanted to be a leader in design and production," the piece added.
As the FT notes, the situation is almost the same this time. Dassault and its CEO Eric Trappier plan to retain control of the €100 billion Future Combat Air System (FCAS) fighter part, despite strong opposition from partner Airbus. Macron has tried to save the project from collapse by holding repeated talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
"This confusion has brought renewed attention to the complex relationship between Dassault and its main customer, the French government, renewing the question of who really makes the decisions," the publication emphasized.
At the same time, former top Airbus executive and industry veteran Marwan Lahoud predicted that Dassault would not relent on the issue.
"Everyone thinks the government makes all the decisions, but it's actually much more complicated than that. There is a compromise. It comes down to what France expects from a defense company - does it expect the company to obey, or does it expect it to produce better weapons systems?" explained Lahoud.
In turn, another industry executive made an even more blunt statement:
"Ministers come and go, presidents come and go - but Dassault stays."
The FT notes that, like all defense contractors, the company cannot repeatedly ignore the state, since the French army is the most important buyer of its Rafale fighter jets, which generate the bulk of its revenue. French presidents are thus Dassault's chief marketers.
It is also known that Macron will try to secure a contract with India to buy about 100 Rafale fighter jets during a visit to that country in mid-February.
"But if the stalemate with Germany is not resolved, it will be a stain on Macron's legacy, given his long-standing support for European defense cooperation and reducing dependence on US weapons," the publication warned.
What is known about the FCAS project
The FT recalled that in 2017 Macron, along with then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel, announced the FCAS project. The program was conceived as a fighter jet that would work seamlessly with drones, next-generation weapons and advanced communications systems. Thus, Dassault handled the work on the plane, while Airbus's defense division, based in Germany, led the rest.
"The plan gradually fell apart as the companies argued over the plane's specifications, management and choice of suppliers. Berlin accused Dassault of changing the terms of the agreement and argued that the original agreement should be honored," the paper said.
In particular, led by French CEO Guillaume Faury, Airbus took a more aggressive stance, which was backed by the Mertz government. Germany has also said it may pursue the development of the next-generation aircraft on its own or find other partners.
So unless Macron can defend Dassault's position, few see how the project can be salvaged.
"When I hear some German colleagues saying they don't understand what's going on with FCAS, or how in 2022 they said, 'Once Macron is re-elected, he can get the family to do it,' I want to laugh," said one French defense executive who has worked with Dassault.