Berlin and Paris agreed to ditch the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme that was seen as a key test of European efforts to work together in the face of a hostile Russia.

"I was extremely disappointed to read that France and Germany cannot reach agreement on the development of a European sixth generation airplane," De Wever told a conference in Brussels.

"What a waste of time. What arrogance. This is that we have chosen -- to be irrelevant in a crucial part of air defence, not only now, but in a decade as well."

The Belgian premier, known for his no-nonsense style, called the move "pure stupidity".

"Whoever suggests that we can do it alone, by developing a fighter plane alone, or that we can do it more quickly, is simply ignoring reality," he said.

The multi-billion-dollar programme was beset by disagreements between the firms involved -- France's Dassault Aviation and Airbus, which represents Germany and Spain.

A German government official told AFP on Monday that Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron had "reached the shared assessment that the companies will not be able to come together on building a joint combat aircraft".

The news comes despite calls for Europe to integrate its fragmented militaries more closely as geopolitical turmoil worsens.

Russia's war against Ukraine is in its fifth year, while European countries are increasingly worried about US security commitments to the continent under President Donald Trump.

del/raz/pdw

Dassault Aviation

Airbus Group