France has confirmed it will continue with an independent program to develop a next-generation fighter aircraft (NGF) after Germany decided to withdraw from a joint initiative known as the SCAF (Système de combat aérien du futur), which also involved Spain. Germany’s exit has left France to take full responsibility for creating a new fighter to eventually replace the Rafale, a multirole combat aircraft currently in service. A budget document related to the 2027 financial bill outlines that the core of the SCAF program, including the NGF, will now be carried out either entirely by France or under a different collaborative framework. The document sets two key milestones: a second demonstration phase starting in 2027, which would involve testing a prototype, and the beginning of operational aircraft development in 2029. However, the NGF is not expected to be fully operational until the early 2040s. Minister of the Armed Forces Catherine Vautrin confirmed during a session with the National Assembly that the NGF program has become a national effort once again. The French military ministry has already begun working on the NGF independently to meet the original timeline. Studies previously conducted in collaboration with Germany will be reused, and Vautrin assured that the transition has not resulted in any financial loss. Meanwhile, the Rafale continues to be upgraded. Recent versions include the F4.1 (2023) and F4.2 (2025), with F4.3 currently under evaluation. The upcoming Rafale F5 is expected to represent a major technological leap forward. Eric Trappier, CEO of Dassault Aviation, the company behind the Rafale, has stated that his firm is capable of designing the NGF independently. He emphasized that the Rafale was developed without foreign partners, suggesting that France could follow a similar path for the NGF. While international cooperation remains a possibility, the options are limited. The United States has its own next-generation fighter program, the F-47 from Boeing, which was selected in March 2025. The United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan are working on the GCAP (Global Combat Air Programme), and Germany is considering joining. Germany has also begun talks with Spain about developing a twin-engine fighter. Potential partnerships with Sweden or India have also been mentioned, though no formal agreements have been made.