Report: Germany May Ditch Joint Fighter Jet Project with France to Join UK

Germany may abandon the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) fighter jet project it is running with France and Spain in favor of another project with the United Kingdom, UK media reported on Wednesday, citing people in the know.

In 2015, the UK Defense Ministry struck a deal with the UK's largest defense firm, BAE Systems, to develop the Tempest fighter jet by 2035. Italy and Japan have also joined the project along the way, Sputnik reported.

At the moment, Germany is considering ditching its flagship combat jet project worth 100 billion euros ($105 billion), which it has been working on with France and Spain for several years, and instead joining the UK in its competing effort, media reported.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is reportedly concerned that the FCAS project risks becoming too costly, as Germany has already committed 40 billion euros to it.