German withdrawal from the FCAS program: fake news, why do it?

An article from the British site thetimes.co.uk, published on November 1, affirmed that Berlin was preparing to withdraw from the FCAS program, by decision of Chancellor Olaf Scholz, after discreet negotiations with London, to join its counterpart, the program GCAP which brings together London, Rome and Tokyo.

According to the journalist, the German Chancellor was even ready to weigh the lifting of German sanctions against Saudi Arabia , which today block an order for 48 Eurofighter Typhoon by Riyadh, an order which is also essential to ensure the survival of the British assembly line for the European fighter until the start of construction of the Tempest, its successor from the GCAP program.

The cautious reaction of the French authorities to probable fake news

As we wrote on November 1 , if a certain context of tension between France and Germany on several subjects made it impossible to turn away, purely and simply, from this otherwise unsourced information, there was nothing to indicate, on the other hand , that Berlin could have followed such a trajectory, carrying a historic break with Paris.

The French industrial and state managers of the FCAS program, as well as the MGCS program which is closely linked to it, therefore did not, in the least, treat this announcement with contempt, even if they were all at the very least skeptical. as to its veracity.

They quickly turned to Berlin and London, to try to see things more clearly, and avoid, if necessary, repeating the surprise that was that of the announcement of the cancellation of the submarine program Australians in August 2021.

As one might doubt, the information collected was very reassuring. Berlin swore to its heavens that no such negotiations were underway with London, and that Germany remained totally focused on the FCAS and MGCS programs. An official denial was, as such, to be published soon.

Same story with the British authorities, who say they do not know where such information could have emerged from, while rejecting the allegations according to which they are carrying out secret negotiations with Berlin on the subject of GCAP.

Withdrawal from Germany's FCAS program considered possible, but not very credible

Of course, in many respects the Times' claims could be suspect, although, indeed, the current window is probably the last in which Berlin can hope to join GCAP, or attempt to merge the two programs.

Thus, and this will perhaps surprise many people, particularly in France, industrial collaboration between French and German industries is now peaceful and effective, including between Dassault Aviation and Airbus DS, according to the company's own admission. French aircraft manufacturer.

It seems, in fact, that the political resumption of the FCAS program, then the MGCS program, made it possible to calm the tumultuous relations between industrialists on both sides of the Rhine, who are now moving forward jointly and effectively to give substance to both. critical projects.

Furthermore, this appeasement owes a lot to the personal investment of Sébastien Lecornu, the French Minister of the Armed Forces, and to his German counterpart, Boris Pistorius, who also have effective and peaceful relations, and who, it seems, he, esteem each other.

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