Production of French-German fighter jet threatened by rivalries, chief executive says

The leaders of France and Germany have a “strong willingness” to build a new fighter jet together despite bitter internal rivalries, according to the chief executive of engine manufacturer Safran.

A row over who should lead between French aerospace company Dassault and the German unit of Airbus has threatened to break apart the countries’ efforts to make a next-generation fighter jet.

France’s Safran, one of the world’s biggest engine-makers, is due to co-produce turbines for the aircraft. Its chief executive, Olivier Andriès, told reporters in London on Tuesday that relations were “very strained” between the lead partners on the Future Combat Air System (known as Scaf in France)

However, he added that the offices of the French president, Emmanuel Macron, and the German chancellor, Friedrich Merz, wanted a solution. “Obviously the relationship between Airbus and Dassault is extremely difficult,” Andriès said. “Have we reached a breaking point or not on the question? I can’t answer.

“I know that on the political side there is still very strong willingness on the French president’s side as well as on the German chancellor’s side to strike a deal and to solve it.”

The Scaf would be a so-called sixth-generation fighter jet, combining stealth abilities with advanced electronics and weaponry – as well as potentially flying alongside drones. It would be produced at the same time as the rival Global Combat Air Programme, or Tempest, which will be co-produced by Britain’s BAE Systems, Italy’s Leonardo and Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and the US’s F-47 fighter, to be built by Boeing.

However, many analysts and industry leaders – including Airbus’s chief executive – have openly mused about whether separate European projects should duplicate efforts to build the planes.

Andriès said that cooperation in other parts of Scaf was nevertheless “very smooth”. Safran and Germany’s MTU Engines carried out detailed work to allocate responsibilities at the outset, he added.

The chief executive’s comments came during a visit to lobby UK government ministers and express willingness to invest in Britain. Although headquartered in France, Safran employs 5,500 people in the UK in various acquired businesses making landing gear, flight control machinery, seats and other parts for civilian and military aircraft.

Andriès said that the company’s electric motors in Pitstone, Buckinghamshire, would play an increasing role in trying to develop crucial magnets that are not reliant on rare earth metals. Aerospace, defence and automotive manufacturers are scrambling to find alternatives to rare earths, after China, the dominant supplier, imposed export controls in retaliation to the US trade war.

“Supply chains have been weaponised,” Andriès said. “‘How can we reduce our dependency on rare earths?’ is going to be one thema in the UK.”

The company is also investing heavily in engine development in preparation for the next generation of civil passenger jets. Airbus and Boeing are both considering when to start formal development of a new single aisle plane.

Safran is the co-owner, with America’s General Electric, of CFM International, which is developing a disruptive “open fan” jet engine, unlike American rival Pratt & Whitney and Britain’s Rolls-Royce, which is aiming to break back into the single-aisle engine market.

Andriès said Safran was looking at open fan and orthodox ducted designs, and was “getting prepared for every scenario” if the aircraft manufacturers chose to stick with similar designs rather than the “bolder” CFM idea.