• MUNICH - Industrial codevelopment of the French-German-Spanish Next-Generation Fighter (NGF) is almost certainly headed for collapse, with negotiations between Airbus and Dassault halted on the next phase of the project amid a long-running industrial dispute over leadership and workshare, an industry source said today. • The future fighter jet is the driving force behind Europe’s multibillion-dollar Future Combat Air System that also includes development of new weapons, drone swarms, sensors and a “combat cloud” communications network. • And though “no funeral” of FCAS is expected this week, clarity around launching the effort’s Phase 2 is needed, according to the industry source, who spoke on background on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference to bluntly discuss the state of negotiations. • “Why negotiate” on Phase 2 when opposing views on cooperation exist between Airbus and Dassault? • The new phase was planned to involve production and flight of a NGF demonstrator later this year, but once phase 1B finishes in April, NGF will be condemned to its end. • At a political level, outstanding issues are proving “more difficult than meets the eye,” said the industry source, pointing to delayed meetings between Berlin and Paris aimed at resolving issues and offering a new way forward.
Article Summaries:
- MUNICH - Industrial codevelopment of the French-German-Spanish Next-Generation Fighter (NGF) is almost certainly headed for collapse, with negotiations between Airbus and Dassault halted on the next phase of the project amid a long-running industrial dispute over leadership and workshare, an industry source said today. The future fighter jet is the driving force behind Europe’s multibillion-dollar Future Combat Air System that also includes development of new weapons, drone swarms, sensors and a “combat cloud” communications network. And though “no funeral” of FCAS is expected this week, clari
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