In July 2017, the Franco–German ministerial council decided to launch the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) and the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS). These decisions were reaffirmed in the Meseberg declaration of June 2018 and the Toulouse declaration of October 2019. If successful, these programs would represent not only major military, technological, and political achievements for the participating countries but also a tangible step forward in advancing European strategic autonomy.
However, considering the extraordinary complexity of the programs, the differing French and German perspectives, and the ongoing defense industry disputes, the feasibility of their realization is legitimately called into question. This analysis explores the strategic and political context, current status, and potential future of the FCAS and MGCS programs.
