Leaders from France and Germany are expressing a strong commitment to collaborate on a new fighter jet project, despite existing internal tensions, as noted by Safran’s chief executive, Olivier Andriès. The initiative, part of the Future Combat Air System (known as Scaf in France), faces challenges primarily related to leadership disputes between French aerospace company Dassault and the German unit of Airbus.
During a press briefing in London, Andriès highlighted the strained dynamics between the main partners involved but reaffirmed the political willingness from both French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to find a resolution. He acknowledged the difficulties in the relationship between Airbus and Dassault, while refraining from making predictions about the outcome of the negotiations.
The Scaf project aims to develop a sixth-generation fighter jet that integrates advanced stealth features, electronics, and potential drone partnerships. This effort coincides with the Global Combat Air Programme, or Tempest, being developed in Britain, as well as the U.S. F-47 fighter by Boeing.
Concerns have been raised by industry analysts about the efficiency of maintaining separate European projects for fighter jet development. Despite these challenges, Andriès stated that collaboration in other aspects of the Scaf initiative is progressing smoothly, with clear responsibilities assigned among partners.
Andriès also discussed Safran’s ongoing investments in engine development for the next generation of civil passenger jets. The company, along with General Electric, is working on advanced engine designs, including a disruptive “open fan” jet engine.
Furthermore, Andriès emphasized the strategic importance of reducing dependency on rare earth metals due to supply chain vulnerabilities highlighted by recent global tensions. Safran’s investments in this area are aimed at navigating these challenges in the aerospace sector.
Source: https://www.theguardian.com/world/2025/dec/02/production-of-french-german-fighter-jet-threatened-by-rivalries-chief-executive-says