BERLIN

The expected decision on the fighter jet to be built as part of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), Europe's joint defense project, was postponed again on Friday, according to German deputy government spokesperson Steffen Meyer.

Meyer said at a news conference in Berlin that the countries are in an intensive dialogue process with France on the project.

"We will reach a final decision in the next few weeks,” he said.

He confirmed that Germany considers the project “quite important” but also “complex,” and the previously indicated end-of-February timeline has been pushed back.

About FCAS

The FCAS program envisions the development of a new generation air combat system to replace the fighter jets of France, Germany and Spain.

The future of the project remains uncertain due to long-standing disagreements about the aircraft's technical specifications, leadership sharing and industrial division of labor.

In particular, France's insistence that the new-generation aircraft be capable of carrying nuclear weapons and be designed to be compatible with aircraft carriers has deepened differences with Germany, which focuses on different operational needs.

The project, which is estimated to reach €100 billion ($116 billion), is the most ambitious initiative in European defense cooperation.