Dassault Aviation says pushed out by Airbus on Eurodrone: CEO

Dassault Aviation is reportedly seeking compensation from Airbus following changes to the Eurodrone programme, a development that has intensified tensions between the two companies amid collapse of their joint fighter jet project. The Eurodrone, a surveillance drone developed by France, Germany, Italy, and Spain, was intended to reduce European reliance on U.S. and Israeli technology. However, France’s decision to remove funding for drone purchases in its latest defence bill has reduced the expected workload for Dassault, prompting the company to seek compensation from Airbus for part of the lost investment.

The Eurodrone project, valued at 7 billion euros, is one of three major Franco-German defence initiatives that have faced delays or disagreements. The project, led by Airbus, is currently in advanced development, with first flight scheduled for 2027. Dassault is responsible for the flight control and mission communication systems, but the recent procurement changes have raised concerns about its role in the project.

Airbus has not publicly commented on the compensation request, with CEO Guillaume Faury previously stating the Eurodrone project would likely continue with a "slightly different setup". The dispute highlights ongoing challenges in European defence cooperation and adds to the tensions between two key industry players.