France has begun negotiations with the United Arab Emirates to cooperate on the development of an upgraded Rafale fighter, slated to enter service around 2030, according to French Defence Minister Catherine Vautrin. The move follows the collapse of the Franco‑German next‑generation fighter project (FCAS), from which Germany withdrew due to unresolved disputes between Dassault Aviation and Airbus's aerospace division. The new Rafale variant will not fully replace FCAS, lacking some sixth‑generation features such as advanced stealth. Simultaneously, the Franco‑German next‑generation tank program faces serious delays, highlighting a weakening of defence cooperation between the two EU powers. If the UAE partnership is finalized, France could share development costs and technology for future Rafale generations, while the UAE, a major Rafale operator, would gain deeper involvement.