France, April 24 -- Plans to develop FCAS (Future Combat Air System) together with Spain have been hanging by a thread amid a public dispute over control between ​France's Dassault Aviation and Airbus SE, which represents both Germany and Spain in the 100-billion-euro programme. 

On Wednesday, Germany and France's defence ministers had offered differing timelines for a decision on the programme, with one saying ​the two countries' leaders would decide soon and the other ​saying mediators had sought more time to discuss the matter.

Asked on Friday whether FCAS was dead, Macron said "No, not at all", adding he had just discussed the ⁠issue with Merz on the margins of an EU Co...