"If mandated by our customers, we would support a two-factor solution and are committed to playing a leading role," Faury told a news conference.

"But the deadlock of a single pillar should not jeopardise the entire future of this high-tech European capability which will bolster our collective defence."

The Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme was launched in 2017 to replace France's Rafale jet and the Eurofighter planes used by Germany and Spain.

But the scheme, jointly developed by the three countries, has stalled as disagreements grow between Dassault and Airbus.

German industrial interests and some politicians have bristled at Dassault's alleged efforts to revise FCAS agreements and take greater control of the aircraft portion of the project.

On Wednesday, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz signalled that Berlin could abandon the project, saying Germany does not need the same new fighter jets as France.

French President Emmanuel Macron's office said he remained "committed to the success of the FCAS project" and considered it "incomprehensible" that the disagreements have not been overcome at a time when Europe must "show unity and performance".

Failure to get FCAS off the ground would be a blow to broader efforts by European NATO allies to demonstrate tight defence cooperation in the face of threats from Russia and doubts about American security commitments.

"We believe we are at the difficult juncture of the program," Faury said.

"At Airbus, we continue to believe that the program as a whole makes sense."

The plan envisages not only a fighter jet but an interlinked drone swarm and a digital cloud system.

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Airbus Group