Germany has exited a major initiative to develop a European-made fighter jet alongside France and Spain. This decision likely jeopardizes the Future Combat Air System project, impacting European efforts to bolster defense capabilities and reduce dependency on U.S. armaments.

The project was unveiled in 2017 by French President Emmanuel Macron and former German Chancellor Angela Merkel. Spain joined two years later. The aim was to replace the Eurofighters used by Germany and Spain, and the Rafales employed by France, with a new stealth fighter jet. However, disagreements between Dassault Aviation and Airbus over project management have led to a standstill.

Boris Pistorius, Germany’s defense minister, commented, “It was an ambitious, large-scale European project that is now collapsing in the face of reality.” The German government announced its withdrawal on Tuesday.

France and Spain have not yet indicated their plans regarding the project’s continuation. Their willingness and capability to proceed without Germany remain uncertain. The initiative, with an estimated cost of around 100 billion euros, equaling approximately $115 billion, ranks among the most costly military investments Germany has considered.

This project’s potential collapse marks one of the most significant failures in joint military collaborations between Europe’s main partners. Its completion was originally anticipated for the 2040s, highlighting its ambitious scope and substantial financial investment.