Free Republic

France and Germany on Friday hailed the conclusion of a deal to build a new European fighter jet after months of disagreements between two companies involved -- Airbus and Dassault Aviation. Launched by France and Germany in 2017 and since joined by Spain, the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) aims to have a next-generation jet in service by 2040, along with integrated drone fleets. But progress on the new delta-wing stealth aircraft has been plagued by fighting over the sharing of the industrial work as well as intellectual property for the cutting-edge technologies. "After intense negotiations, a deal between manufacturers...

Germany, France and Spain on Monday signed a deal for a next-generation European fighter plane. The framework was agreed between the defense ministers of each nation with French President Emmanuel Macron in attendance at the Paris Air Show in Le Bourget, just north of the French capital. The arrangement will include a joint air combat system that could also control drones and satellites. German Defense Minister Ursula von der Leyen said it was a "big day for the European defense union." The Future Combat Air System (FCAS) is expected to be operational in just over 20 years, von der Leyen...