BAE Systems could be left out of new European warplane project

France's Airbus and Germany's Dassault have teamed up to develop a new warplane to replace Eurofighter and Rafale jets, indicating Britain's BAE Systems may be left out of the programme.

BAE Systems which is a partner in Eurofighter wasn’t mentioned in the announcement on Wednesday. The move follows pledges from last summer to tighten defence links with new jets call the Future Combat Air System and both companies signed an initial agreement.

It is expected that the new jets would replace the jointly-produced Eurofighter and Dassault’s Rafale by 2035-2040. They are currently waiting on French and German governments to communicate details on the requirements for the program.

Chris Boardman, head at BAE’s military aircraft branch, said he was “absolutely convinced that we, the UK, BAE Systems, will one way or another have involvement”.

Airbus’ Chief Executive Officer Tom Enders said that Brexit could mean the UK misses out on future programmes rather than to existing work.

Airbus’s defense chief, Dirk Hoke said on Wednesday that “soft Brexit” would keep the UK close to the EU and it would be easier for the country to join the fighter program. “There are decisions in the near future on whether to include or exclude the U.K. in certain projects depending on how Brexit will progress. If it’s a hard Brexit it will be a very difficult decision.”