Europe's $116B fighter jet 'failure' raises fresh doubts about ability to defend itself without US
Europe's most ambitious effort to build a homegrown sixth-generation fighter jet has collapsed, dealing a major blow to the continent's push for military independence just as NATO allies pledge historic increases in defense spending.France and Germany have abandoned the fighter jet portion of the Future Combat Air System project (FCAS), according to French and German officials — a roughly $116 billion project launched in 2017 to develop a next-generation combat aircraft intended to replace France's Rafale fighter and Germany and Spain's Eurofighter fleets by 2040. "The German authorities considered that it was not possible to put further pressure on the companies concerned," the Élysée Palace, the office of French President Emmanuel Macron, said in a statement.The program was envisioned as Europe's answer to future U.S.and Chinese airpower, combining a stealth fighter with advanced networking capabilities, artificial intelligence and accompanying drone aircraft.
European leaders also viewed it as a cornerstone of the continent's push for greater defense autonomy and a stronger domestic defense-industrial base.TRUMP PUSHED NATO TO SPEND BIG — NOW COMES THE HARDER QUESTION: CAN EUROPE ACTUALLY FIGHT?Concerns about the project's viability had been building for months.Earlier in 2026, European Union Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius described the program as a "failure" and warned that Europe lacked successful examples of major multinational defense projects.Its collapse now raises fresh questions about whether Europe can translate promises of rearmament and strategic autonomy into the complex multinational weapons programs needed to compete with the United States and China.Sixth-generation fighters are expected to combine stealth technology, artificial intelligence, advanced sensors, networking systems and teams of accompanying drones.
Military planners view them as the future of air combat and a key capability in potential conflicts involving major powers ...