<p>Airbus and Dassault Aviation announced on Wednesday they intend to team up on the development of the future French-German combat fighter, a project Berlin and Paris unveiled last year.</p>.<p>The two firms "have decided to join forces for the development and production of Europe's Future Combat Air System," which is intended to enter service by 2040, they said in a joint statement released at the Berlin air show.</p>.<p>The French and German governments are expected to make an announcement during the air show about their intention to move forward with the project.</p>.<p>Airbus and Dassault have been rivals in the development of combat aircraft.</p>.<p>Dassault builds the Rafale which is France's main fighter jet, while Airbus is a partner in the Eurofighter Typhoon which is used by several European nations, including Germany.</p>.<p>Dassault's chief executive Eric Trappier told journalists that the two firms had reached an agreement in principle to work together.</p>.<p>He called it "a first message to tell (policymakers) we are ready in the field of a future air combat system".</p>.<p>The chief executive of Airbus's defence unit, Dirk Hoke, called the project a "huge step forward" in ensuring the development of technologies to ensure European sovereignty.</p>.<p>"It can only be done, not only when the governments work together, but when key industrial partners team up," he said.</p>
<p>Airbus and Dassault Aviation announced on Wednesday they intend to team up on the development of the future French-German combat fighter, a project Berlin and Paris unveiled last year.</p>.<p>The two firms "have decided to join forces for the development and production of Europe's Future Combat Air System," which is intended to enter service by 2040, they said in a joint statement released at the Berlin air show.</p>.<p>The French and German governments are expected to make an announcement during the air show about their intention to move forward with the project.</p>.<p>Airbus and Dassault have been rivals in the development of combat aircraft.</p>.<p>Dassault builds the Rafale which is France's main fighter jet, while Airbus is a partner in the Eurofighter Typhoon which is used by several European nations, including Germany.</p>.<p>Dassault's chief executive Eric Trappier told journalists that the two firms had reached an agreement in principle to work together.</p>.<p>He called it "a first message to tell (policymakers) we are ready in the field of a future air combat system".</p>.<p>The chief executive of Airbus's defence unit, Dirk Hoke, called the project a "huge step forward" in ensuring the development of technologies to ensure European sovereignty.</p>.<p>"It can only be done, not only when the governments work together, but when key industrial partners team up," he said.</p>