Dassault Aviation said that Airbus tried to have it removed from the Eurodrone development program, adding a new public dimension to tensions between the two European planemakers.
Speaking to a French Senate committee about delays affecting the Eurodrone surveillance project, Dassault CEO Eric Trappier said the matter was straightforward from his company's perspective. "For us it is very simple. Airbus told us to get out," Trappier said. He added that Dassault disagrees with that instruction and that the companies are "in discussions on why we are excluded." Trappier also said he could not provide further details about the programme, noting that "relations are broken at a programme (level)."
The dispute is linked to a smaller-than-expected workload for Dassault, a consequence of Paris deciding not to proceed with purchases of the surveillance drone. That decision has altered the distribution of work and responsibilities within the multinational effort. The Eurodrone program, conceived as a European competitor to the U.S. Reaper, is being developed jointly by France, Germany, Italy and Spain.
Trappier's testimony to the Senate committee highlights a fracturing of cooperation among partners at a program level, with Dassault publicly outlining its objections to Airbus' stance. The company said discussions are ongoing but signaled that current relations are sufficiently strained to limit what it can disclose about the project's status and next steps.
The core facts presented to the committee were limited to the allegation that Airbus sought Dassault's removal, Dassault's disagreement with that action, and the linkage between Dassault's reduced share of work and Paris' cancellation of domestic purchases of the drone. Beyond those statements, Trappier indicated there was little he could add while relations remain damaged within the program.
Context and implications - While specific program timelines and contractual remedies were not detailed in Trappier's remarks, the public nature of the dispute illustrates strains among European defense contractors involved in the same multinational procurement. The Eurodrone program continues to involve four national partners and remains positioned as a European surveillance capability alternative to the U.S. Reaper.