![Les drapeaux français et allemand côte à côte. [Xose Bouzas / Hans Lucas / Hans Lucas via AFP]](/cdn-cgi/image/onerror=redirect,width=640,height=640,format=webp/https://storage.googleapis.com/uploads.mongoosehq.com/url/media/105460669/ba7c74799739a46328c430c16c55d3c8aab9c737b59ba19ad596a5287c273d07)
Overview
- German chancellor Friedrich Merz said Berlin does not need the same fighter as France and warned the project cannot continue unless diverging requirements are resolved.
- Airbus CEO Guillaume Faury said the company would support a two‑aircraft path if customers demand it and suggested that such a split could open the door to new partners.
- Emmanuel Macron reiterated that Europeans should converge on one model, arguing in New Delhi that state strategy should not be set by corporate frictions or duplicated spending.
- Spain stated it remains fully committed to the SCAF under the 2019 framework, as the program continues to be strained by governance disputes between Dassault and Airbus.
- Reuters reported Berlin was discussing additional F‑35s as a contingency, but the German government denied plans to reinforce its F‑35 fleet.