Merz, Macron to discuss fate of fighter jet FCAS in week of December 15, industry source says

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron are planning to discuss the fate of the troubled Franco-German fighter jet project FCAS. (File Photo)

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron are planning to discuss the fate of the troubled Franco-German fighter jet project FCAS – or SCAF – in the week of December 15, an industry source told Reuters on Saturday.

The 100-billion-euro ($116 billion) Future Combat Air System (FCAS), floated more than eight years ago, has been mired in disputes between the companies involved over workshare and prized technology.

The defence ministers of the participating nations Germany, France and Spain are set to meet on December 11 to discuss the project, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters earlier this week.

A German government spokesperson declined to comment on the date, only saying appointments by the chancellor would be made public in time. The French government was not immediately available for comment.