Airbus suggests split solution for Europe’s faltering fighter jet programme

Aerospace firm proposes two separate warplanes amid dispute over who leads 100bn project

Airbus has suggested splitting Europe's faltering future fighter jet programme into two separate warplanes, amid a dispute between manufacturers over who leads the 100bn (87bn) project.

The company's defence arm - which represents Germany and Spain - and the French partner, Dassault Aviation, are locked in a battle over the jet part of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), a wide-ranging project that will also include autonomous drones and a futuristic combat communications cloud".