German defence firms gather at Eurosatory after FCAS collapse

The Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme, a joint German‑French fighter project launched in 2017, has been declared a failure. Hans‑Christoph Atzpodien, head of the German Defence Industry Association, told reporters at the Eurosatory arms fair that "the idea of greater European cooperation must not be abandoned" and called for lessons to be learned for future projects.

At the Paris exhibition, Germany is represented by around 100 companies, underscoring its intent to stay engaged in international defence markets and to seek new partnerships. Eurosatory, one of the world’s largest arms fairs, hosts roughly 2,600 exhibitors from 68 nations, displaying tanks, artillery, munitions, drones and other weapons systems.

The association also warned that other joint programmes, such as the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) tank project, face similar risks of fragmentation, citing divergent national and corporate interests. The German delegation’s strong presence aims to demonstrate its commitment to European defence collaboration despite recent setbacks.