The FCAS (Future Combat Air System) program, which provides for the manufacture of a combat system including a 6th gen fighter, is expected to move on to its next phase, Reuters sources said.
The project has gone through controversies between Airbus and Dassault, which dispute the leading role in society that includes France, Germany and Spain.
According to two sources at the news agency, the three countries reached an agreement to proceed with the program, whose cost should exceed 100 billion euros.
The FCAS has as participants Airbus, Dassault and Indra, which represents Germany and Spain. It was launched in 2017 with the aim of replacing the Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon fighters.
In addition to the stealth fighter, called the New Generation Fighter (NGF), the group is developing an unmanned aircraft and an air combat cloud, which will be used in a future combat scenario.
The intention is for the new fighter to enter service by 2040, but uncertainties about the so-called phase 1B, which involves research and development for the production of a prototype of the aircraft, stalled the project in April.
Dassault and Airbus, which previously worked on opposing fighters (Rafale and Eurofighter) are now vying for leadership in NSF development.
Famous for its fighter jets, Dassault intended to coordinate the project, but Airbus is also looking for a bigger share as it is the most important division of the FCAS program.
