Overview
- The heads of BDLI and IG Metall urged Berlin to abandon the joint fighter effort and pursue a two-aircraft approach in a Handelsblatt op-ed.
- Emmanuel Macron rejected claims the project is finished and is seeking talks with Chancellor Friedrich Merz to revive progress.
- A prolonged clash between Dassault and Airbus over leadership, technology access and intellectual property missed a December deadline and has stalled a Phase 2 demonstrator contract.
- German officials signal they want to retain shared elements such as the combat cloud, sensors and remote carriers even if the manned fighter diverges.
- Spain’s defence official warned that splintering into multiple national jets would fragment European capacity and threaten the 2040 timeline.