France’s Dassault Aviation and the German arm of Airbus are leading a programme to build Europe’s next fighter jet - Jeanne Accorsini/AFP

A Franco-German pact to build Europe’s next-generation fighter jet is in danger of falling apart after a public spat between the two companies leading the programme.

A war of words has broken out between France’s Dassault Aviation and the German arm of Airbus over who should lead work on the €100bn (£85bn) project and how it should be run.

Eric Trappier, Dassault’s boss, suggested that Berlin was more concerned with the cost of the fighter jet than its ability to succeed in battle.

Mr Trappier said: “We have to see whether we may be capable to be together. Because we are not developing peanuts, we are developing fighters the armed forces need to get the best from.

“In defence there is no need to look at profit. You need to look at performance. When you have to face Russian fighters and even Chinese fighters tomorrow, you need to be the best.

“The idea of cooperation is not only to cooperate. It’s also to design and develop the best fighters in the world.”

He added that Germany must accept French leadership on the programme or leave. Paris-based Dassault makes the Rafale fighter jet, the successor to the iconic Mirage, and Mr Trappier suggested this made his company uniquely qualified to run the project.Dassault makes the Rafale fighter jet, the successor to the iconic Mirage - Bertrand Guay/AFP via Getty Images

Mr Trappier told Bloomberg TV: “We should be the leader, not because we want to be the leader but because we are the only ones to really master the technology.”

Airbus hit back by saying Dassault risked turning the alliance “toxic”.

‘It doesn’t have to become toxic’

The embarrassing public spat threatens to undermine the alliance at a time when European leaders are seeking closer alignment on rearmament. It may also boost the fortunes of a rival British fighter jet project, led by BAE Systems.

Mr Trappier, who was speaking at the Paris Air Show, said that Airbus was free to join a rival group led by Britain’s BAE if it could not accept a secondary role on the project. Airbus is already a member of the Eurofighter consortium alongside BAE, Italy and Japan.

He suggested that Dassault was a reluctant partner of Airbus on the fighter programme known as the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), which was borne out of the Brexit vote in 2016.Eric Trappier, Dassault’s boss, suggests Germany is more concerned with the cost of the jet than its ability in battle - Nathan Laine/Bloomberg

Mr Trappier said: “At that time in 2017 we were with BAE to try to develop a future combat vehicle. But there was a change in politics, they wanted to get us to be with Germany.”

He added that Dassault would be prepared to “go alone.”

“I am French, I support the French armed forces. The French air force has a certain experience in Europe, we have the deterrence capability, the nuclear capability.

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“Which means that we have independent technology, this long outstanding experience in fighters, if Europe wants to do something they need to rely on this experience.”

Speaking at a separate briefing during the exhibition, Jean-Brice Dumont, head of air power at Airbus, said: “It doesn’t have to become toxic. But the political will has to be there, otherwise it doesn’t happen.”

The spat comes as EU leaders scramble to spend €800bn rearming the continent by the end of the decade. Brussels has approved a massive spending commitment to build new tanks, ammunition and weaponry founded on a promise to “buy European”.

The rift threatens to undermine the united front EU leaders have sought to present on defence.

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