FCAS is led by France’s Dassault, Airbus’ German unit and Spain’s Indra and is designed to deliver a next-generation fighter jet by 2040. However, it’s currently bogged down in disagreements around the work share, which Paris and Berlin are trying to solve. Dassault and Airbus have a notoriously fraught relationship, and the Rafale-maker wants to take the lead in making the FCAS’ warplane.
Belgium is an observer member, but said last week it had earmarked €300 million for the program and will ask to become a full member “as soon as possible.”
“If I was diplomatic, I would say that Belgium is welcome if they stop buying F-35s. If I wasn’t, I would say they’re really taking us for fools,” Trappier said this week.
Trappier and Belgium have a long history of sparring over the Belgian government’s decision to purchase F-35s instead of Rafales. In 2023, the Dassault CEO pushed back against Belgium’s bid to become an observer, leading to a public spat with Francken’s predecessor, Ludivine Dedonder.
“The government will assess its position in the FCAS project,” Francken said.
