France and Germany Tell Their Teams to Keep Working on New Fighter Jet

Apr 24, 2026, 11:02
A2

France and Germany Tell Their Teams to Keep Working on New Fighter Jet

Introduction

The French president and the German chancellor told their defence ministries to continue work on a new fighter jet project. The project is called FCAS. Some people thought the project was finished. But the leaders talked at a meeting in Cyprus on April 24. They said the project is not dead.

Main Body

The FCAS project started in 2017. It wants to make new fighter jets and drones. These planes will work together with a computer network. They will replace France''s Rafale and Germany''s Eurofighter planes. The cost is very high: hundreds of billions of euros. The project stopped because two companies had a fight. The companies are Dassault Aviation from France and Airbus from Germany and Spain. They fought about who will lead the work on the fighter jet. Some people are trying to help them agree. They asked for ten more days to give their report. Macron said the project is not dead. He and Merz had a good talk. They told the defence ministries to look at many ways to work together. A German government spokeswoman said the work will finish in a few weeks. The Spanish prime minister said Spain wants the project to go forward. He said Spain is not the problem. If the project fails, it will be bad for European defence and for France and Germany''s relationship.

Conclusion

The leaders'' order gives the project more time. But the two companies still do not agree. In the next weeks, the work of the ministries and the helpers will show if the project can continue.

Vocabulary Learning

continue
To keep doing something繼續
Example:Please continue reading.
meeting
When people come together to talk會議
Example:We have a meeting at 3 o'clock.
problem
Something difficult or not good問題
Example:This is a big problem.
project
A plan or piece of work項目
Example:We have a new project at school.
work
To do a job or activity工作
Example:I work every day.

Sentence Learning

The French president and the German chancellor told their defence ministries to continue work on a new fighter jet project.
This sentence uses the past tense 'told' to describe an action. The structure is 'Subject + verb + object + infinitive phrase'.本句使用過去式'told'描述一個動作。結構為'主語+動詞+賓語+不定式短語'。
Some people thought the project was finished.
This sentence uses past tense 'thought' and a past passive 'was finished'. It shows a belief.本句使用過去式'thought'以及被動語態'was finished'，表達一種看法。
The project stopped because two companies had a fight.
This sentence uses 'because' to give a reason. The main clause is in past tense.本句使用'because'來給出原因。主句為過去式。
Macron said the project is not dead.
This is reported speech. The verb 'said' is past, but the reported statement uses present tense 'is' because it is still true.本句為間接引語。動詞'said'為過去式，但引述的陳述使用現在式'is'，因為該事實仍然成立。
If the project fails, it will be bad for European defence.
This is a conditional sentence (first conditional) using 'if' + present tense, and 'will' for future result.本句為條件句（第一條件句），使用'if'加現在式，以及'will'表示未來結果。
B2

Franco-German FCAS Fighter Jet Project Gets New Political Support Despite Ongoing Industrial Disputes

Introduction

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have instructed their defence ministries to continue work on the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project, countering speculation that the program had collapsed. The directive was issued after discussions on the sidelines of an informal European Union summit in Nicosia, Cyprus, on April 24.

Main Body

The FCAS program, launched in 2017, aims to develop a next-generation combat air system that includes crewed fighter jets and armed drones operating under a common digital network. It is designed to replace France''s Rafale and Germany''s Eurofighter aircraft, with total costs estimated at hundreds of billions of euros. However, the project has been delayed due to a public dispute between France''s Dassault Aviation and Airbus, which represents Germany and Spain, over who should lead the core fighter element. Mediators chosen to solve this disagreement have requested an additional ten days to deliver their conclusions. Macron stated that the project was not dead, adding that he and Merz had a constructive discussion and tasked defence ministries with exploring multiple areas of cooperation, not limited to FCAS. A German government spokeswoman confirmed the instruction and said the work would be completed in the coming weeks. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, also present at the summit, expressed his country''s desire for the project to advance and asserted that Spain was not the source of the difficulties. The failure of FCAS would be a major setback for European defence cooperation and Franco-German relations, as the program is seen as an indicator of bilateral security collaboration amid changing geopolitical conditions.

Conclusion

The political directive from Macron and Merz provides a temporary break for the FCAS project, but the underlying industrial disagreements between Dassault and Airbus remain unresolved. The outcome of the ongoing ministerial work and mediator reports in the coming weeks will determine whether the program can move forward.

Vocabulary Learning

dispute
A serious disagreement or argument between parties爭議；糾紛
Example:The project has been delayed due to a public dispute between France's Dassault Aviation and Airbus.
on the sidelines
Not directly involved in the main activity; at the edge of an event在場邊；不直接參與主要活動
Example:The directive was issued after discussions on the sidelines of an informal EU summit.
setback
A problem that delays or reverses progress挫折；阻礙進展的問題
Example:The failure of FCAS would be a major setback for European defence cooperation.
speculation
The forming of opinions or guesses about something without firm evidence猜測；推測
Example:The political directive countered speculation that the program had collapsed.
underlying
Fundamental but not immediately obvious; hidden beneath the surface根本的；潛在的；不明顯的
Example:The underlying industrial disagreements between Dassault and Airbus remain unresolved.

Sentence Learning

The FCAS program, launched in 2017, aims to develop a next-generation combat air system that includes crewed fighter jets and armed drones operating under a common digital network.
Uses a reduced relative clause ('launched in 2017') and a full relative clause ('that includes...') to add information about the program and the system. This structure helps pack details concisely.使用了簡化關係從句（「launched in 2017」）和完整關係從句（「that includes...」）來補充有關計劃和系統的資訊。這種結構有助於簡潔地包含細節。
However, the project has been delayed due to a public dispute between France's Dassault Aviation and Airbus, which represents Germany and Spain, over who should lead the core fighter element.
Uses the linking word 'However' to show contrast with previous positive context, passive voice ('has been delayed') to focus on the project rather than the agent, and a non-defining relative clause ('which represents...') to add extra information about Airbus.使用連接詞「However」表示與上文正面語境的對比，被動語態（「has been delayed」）將焦點放在項目而非動作執行者，並用非限定性關係從句（「which represents...」）補充有關Airbus的額外資訊。
Macron stated that the project was not dead, adding that he and Merz had a constructive discussion and tasked defence ministries with exploring multiple areas of cooperation, not limited to FCAS.
Uses reported speech ('stated that...') and the participle phrase 'adding that...' to link additional statements smoothly. The phrase 'not limited to' provides a contrastive nuance.使用間接引語（「stated that...」）和分詞短語「adding that...」流暢地連接補充陳述。短語「not limited to」提供了對比意味。
The failure of FCAS would be a major setback for European defence cooperation and Franco-German relations, as the program is seen as an indicator of bilateral security collaboration amid changing geopolitical conditions.
Uses the linking word 'as' to introduce a reason, passive voice ('is seen') to present a general perception, and the preposition 'amid' to show the context. This organizes cause and background effectively.使用連接詞「as」引入原因，被動語態（「is seen」）呈現普遍看法，介詞「amid」顯示背景。這有效地組織了因果和背景資訊。
The political directive from Macron and Merz provides a temporary break for the FCAS project, but the underlying industrial disagreements between Dassault and Airbus remain unresolved.
Uses the contrastive linking word 'but' to join two opposing ideas. The passive adjective 'unresolved' emphasizes the state of the disagreements.使用對比連接詞「but」連接兩個對立的觀點。被動形容詞「unresolved」強調分歧的狀態。
C2

Franco-German FCAS Fighter Jet Project Receives Renewed Political Mandate Amid Persistent Industrial Disagreements

Introduction

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have instructed their respective defence ministries to continue work on the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project, countering speculation that the program had collapsed. The directive was issued following discussions on the margins of an informal European Union summit in Nicosia, Cyprus, on April 24.

Main Body

The FCAS program, initiated in 2017, is intended to develop a next-generation combat air system comprising crewed fighter jets and armed drones operating under a common digital network. It is designed to replace France''s Rafale and Germany''s Eurofighter aircraft, with total costs estimated at hundreds of billions of euros. The project has been stalled due to a public dispute between France''s Dassault Aviation and Airbus, which represents Germany and Spain, over leadership of the core fighter element. Mediators appointed to resolve the impasse have requested an additional ten days to deliver their conclusions. Macron stated that the project was not dead, adding that he and Merz had a constructive discussion and tasked defence ministries with exploring multiple areas of cooperation, not limited to FCAS. A German government spokeswoman confirmed the instruction and stated that the work would be completed in the coming weeks. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, also present at the summit, expressed his country''s desire for the project to advance and asserted that Spain was not the source of the difficulties. The failure of FCAS would represent a major setback for European defence cooperation and Franco-German relations, as the program is seen as a bellwether of bilateral security collaboration amid shifting geopolitical circumstances.

Conclusion

The political directive from Macron and Merz provides a temporary reprieve for the FCAS project, but the underlying industrial disagreements between Dassault and Airbus remain unresolved. The outcome of the ongoing ministerial work and mediator reports in the coming weeks will determine whether the program can proceed.

Vocabulary Learning

bellwether
Something that leads or indicates a trend; a leading indicator or predictor of future developments.領頭羊；風向標；預示未來趨勢的事物。
Example:The FCAS program is seen as a bellwether of bilateral security collaboration amid shifting geopolitical circumstances.
bilateral
Involving two parties, especially two countries or governments; mutual.雙邊的；涉及兩方的。
Example:The failure of FCAS would represent a major setback for Franco-German relations and bilateral security collaboration.
impasse
A situation in which no progress is possible because of disagreement; a deadlock.僵局；死胡同；無法進展的局面。
Example:Mediators appointed to resolve the impasse have requested an additional ten days to deliver their conclusions.
mandate
An official order or commission to do something; a formal instruction or authorization.授權；命令；委任。
Example:The FCAS project receives a renewed political mandate from the French and German leaders.
reprieve
A temporary relief or delay from a difficult or unpleasant situation; a respite.暫緩；緩刑；暫時的解脫。
Example:The political directive from Macron and Merz provides a temporary reprieve for the FCAS project.

Sentence Learning

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have instructed their respective defence ministries to continue work on the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project, countering speculation that the program had collapsed.
Main clause: 'French President... have instructed... to continue work'. Then a present participial phrase 'countering speculation that...' acting as an adverbial modifier. Within that, 'that the program had collapsed' is a noun clause serving as the object of 'speculation'. The use of 'countering' is a participial phrase, and 'respective' is a determiner.主句為「法國總統...已指示...繼續工作」，後接現在分詞短語「countering speculation that...」作為狀語修飾。其中「that the program had collapsed」是名詞子句，作「speculation」的賓語。使用「countering」為分詞短語，以及「respective」限定詞。
The FCAS program, initiated in 2017, is intended to develop a next-generation combat air system comprising crewed fighter jets and armed drones operating under a common digital network.
Main clause: 'The FCAS program... is intended to develop...'. The subject is modified by a past participial phrase 'initiated in 2017' (reduced relative clause). The object 'a next-generation combat air system' is further modified by a present participial phrase 'comprising crewed fighter jets and armed drones', which itself contains another present participial phrase 'operating under a common digital network' modifying 'drones'. This creates a layered structure of reduced relative clauses.主句為「FCAS計劃...旨在開發...」。主語由過去分詞短語「initiated in 2017」修飾（縮減關係子句）。賓語「a next-generation combat air system」由現在分詞短語「comprising crewed fighter jets and armed drones」修飾，該短語內又包含另一現在分詞短語「operating under a common digital network」修飾「drones」，形成層疊的縮減關係子句結構。
The project has been stalled due to a public dispute between France's Dassault Aviation and Airbus, which represents Germany and Spain, over leadership of the core fighter element.
Main clause: 'The project has been stalled'. Followed by a complex prepositional phrase 'due to a public dispute... over leadership...'. Within that, 'between France's Dassault Aviation and Airbus' is a prepositional phrase, and 'which represents Germany and Spain' is a non-restrictive relative clause modifying 'Airbus'. The phrase 'over leadership of the core fighter element' is another prepositional phrase indicating the subject of the dispute.主句為「該項目已停滯」。後接複雜介詞短語「due to a public dispute... over leadership...」。其中「between France's Dassault Aviation and Airbus」是介詞短語，「which represents Germany and Spain」是非限制性關係子句修飾「Airbus」。短語「over leadership of the core fighter element」是另一個介詞短語，指明爭議的主題。
Macron stated that the project was not dead, adding that he and Merz had a constructive discussion and tasked defence ministries with exploring multiple areas of cooperation, not limited to FCAS.
Main clause: 'Macron stated that...'. The object is a noun clause 'that the project was not dead'. Then a present participial phrase 'adding that...' which contains another noun clause 'that he and Merz had a constructive discussion and tasked defence ministries with exploring multiple areas of cooperation'. Within that noun clause, there is a coordination of two verb phrases: 'had a constructive discussion' and 'tasked defence ministries with exploring...'. Finally, a reduced relative phrase 'not limited to FCAS' modifies 'areas of cooperation'.主句為「馬克龍表示...」。賓語是名詞子句「that the project was not dead」。後接現在分詞短語「adding that...」，其中包含另一名詞子句「that he and Merz had a constructive discussion and tasked defence ministries with exploring multiple areas of cooperation」。在該名詞子句內，有兩個動詞短語的並列：「had a constructive discussion」和「tasked defence ministries with exploring...」。最後，縮減關係短語「not limited to FCAS」修飾「areas of cooperation」。
The failure of FCAS would represent a major setback for European defence cooperation and Franco-German relations, as the program is seen as a bellwether of bilateral security collaboration amid shifting geopolitical circumstances.
Main clause: 'The failure of FCAS would represent a major setback...'. The verb 'would represent' is in the conditional mood, indicating a hypothetical outcome. Then a subordinate clause introduced by 'as' (causal conjunction): 'as the program is seen as a bellwether...'. Within that clause, 'amid shifting geopolitical circumstances' is a prepositional phrase. The noun 'bellwether' is a high-lexical-density term.主句為「FCAS的失敗將代表...重大挫折」。動詞「would represent」使用條件語氣，表示假設結果。後接由「as」（因果連詞）引導的從句：「as the program is seen as a bellwether...」。該從句內，「amid shifting geopolitical circumstances」是介詞短語。名詞「bellwether」為高詞彙密度詞彙。