France opens door to fighter jet cooperation with Sweden

Paris has indicated a willingness to collaborate with Sweden on developing a next-generation fighter jet, according to an Elysée official. The official made the remarks ahead of President Emmanuel Macron's upcoming visit to Sweden. The French official noted that both nations are seeking aircraft with similarities and a similar size. The French official further explained that France's aircraft engine production capacity, which Sweden lacks, could be a potential area of cooperation.

The comments from France represent the most explicit outreach to Sweden since the collapse of a long-running joint fighter jet project called the Future Combat Air System (FCAS). The FCAS project, which spanned a decade, ended in failure last spring due to disputes between France's Dassault Aviation and Germany's Airbus Defence and Space.

The rivalry between France and Germany to secure Sweden's involvement in a new fighter jet program has been closely watched in the aerospace industry. Earlier reports suggested that Germany had already initiated discussions with Sweden regarding a potential collaboration. Saab, a leading Swedish defense company, currently produces its fourth-generation Gripen fighter aircraft, while France's Rafale fighter jets are equipped with engines manufactured by Safran, an aircraft engine producer based in France.

The official emphasized that there has been no formal agreement on fighter jet cooperation between the two countries. Sweden is anticipated to make a decision on the next steps for its fighter jet program by September 2027.