French President Emmanuel Macron has publicly reaffirmed his support for the SCAF (Future Combat Air System) program, calling it a “good project” and stating that “things must move forward.” His comments come amid persistent tensions between French and German industrial partners that threaten to stall the key European defense initiative.
A Call for Synergy Over Dissension
In an interview on Tuesday, Macron directly addressed the industrial disagreements. “It’s a good project and I have had no German expression to tell me that it is not a good project,” he stated. He downplayed the corporate friction, adding, “When industrialists try to create dissynergy, that’s one thing, but it’s not for us to endorse it.” The President confirmed he would revisit the topic with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
Warning of Wider Program Repercussions
Macron issued a stark warning, linking the fate of SCAF to another major Franco-German defense project. “And the same goes for the main battle tank, by the way. Because you can imagine, if by chance the German partner were to call into question the common aircraft, we would be obliged to call into question the common tank,” he cautioned. This statement underscores the interconnected nature of European defense cooperation and the potential for a domino effect if key programs falter.
A Pillar of European Strategic Autonomy
The SCAF program is a cornerstone of Franco-German military cooperation. Launched in 2017, it aims to replace the French Rafale and the German and Spanish Eurofighter jets by 2040. The project has gained renewed urgency in the context of European rearmament and heightened tensions with Russia.
Industrial Hurdles and Alliance Speculation
Despite the strategic imperative, industrial consensus has been elusive. French contractor Dassault Aviation, designated as the prime contractor, has sought greater autonomy in the jet’s development, a point of contention with German and Spanish partners. The discord has grown so severe that some German industrial circles advocate for a shift in alliance, with German media speculating about Berlin potentially joining the rival UK-Italy-Japan GCAP fighter program.
Drawing a parallel to past successes, Macron sought to put the current challenges in perspective. “What I am experiencing now with SCAF, I experienced with Ariane-6. Every week I heard, ‘The Germans won’t put up the money, it’s over, it’s a disaster.’ We did it,” he recalled, expressing confidence that the current hurdles can also be overcome.
