Chancellor Friedrich Merz and President Emmanuel Macron have agreed to abandon the Franco-German FCAS next-generation fighter programme, the German government said on June 8, concluding that lead contractors Dassault Aviation and Airbus cannot build a joint combat aircraft. Launched in 2017 and later joined by Spain, the roughly 100-billion-euro project aimed to replace the Rafale and Eurofighter by around 2040 but stalled over work-shares, patent rights and France's need for a nuclear- and carrier-capable jet. Dassault will now develop the Rafale further while Airbus weighs other partners; the project's networking "combat cloud" core will continue as a European system.

Germany will unveil a new aerospace strategy on June 10 at the ILA Berlin air show that aims to make the country a leader in advanced military aviation technology in Europe, according to German media reports. The strategy ties the development of a sixth-generation fighter to the German aerospace industry and demands that Berlin's financial contributions be matched by industrial participation. The move comes as the Franco-German-Spanish Future Combat Air System (SCAF) program remains deadlocked over governance disputes between Dassault Aviation and Airbus.

German industrial orders fell 3.8% in April from the previous month, a sharper decline than expected, the Federal Statistics Office said. The drop reverses a 4.5% rise in March that was driven by pre-orders ahead of the Iran war and the de facto closure of the Strait of Hormuz. The auto industry was hit hardest, with new orders down 5.3%.

Germany has decided to pull out of the joint Franco-German fighter jet development program, a major defense collaboration between the two countries. This move could strain bilateral relations and impact European defense industrial cooperation.

A suspected arson attack on a substation in Reutlingen, Germany, caused a large-scale power outage affecting around 10,000 households and critical facilities. The incident occurred shortly before 2 a.m. local time on June 8, 2026, with evidence of three fires found at the site. Critical facilities including hospitals and nursing homes are affected, and telephone and internet services are partially down. The grid operator Netze BW reported damage to the fence and grounds outside the facility. The incident echoes previous far-left arson attacks in Berlin, and arson experts are involved in the investigation. Authorities are investigating, highlighting ongoing threats to critical infrastructure in Germany.

Background: Uber had made a formal takeover offer of €33 per share for Delivery Hero. Now, a Saudi Arabian start-up has entered the fray, competing with Uber to acquire the Berlin-based food delivery company, adding a new twist to the acquisition battle. The Saudi start-up has emerged as a new competitor to Uber's bid, introducing a fresh challenge to the ongoing acquisition process.

A DLR analysis reveals 226 drone incidents at German airports in 2025, 116 leading to full or partial closures at 25 airports, with estimated costs of €60 million (up to €160 million including follow-on costs). Major hubs Munich and Frankfurt were heavily affected. Authorities suspect hobbyists, intelligence services, or terrorist motives.

Former members of the South African-based Kwasizabantu evangelical mission report systematic physical and psychological abuse of children, including beatings with belts and forced kneeling on wooden logs, in communities in Bavaria and an affiliated boarding school in Switzerland. Victims describe an authoritarian environment focused on breaking the child's will, with corporal punishment justified by religious doctrine. BR investigations suggest the group remains active in Baden-Württemberg through secret house meetings. The mission's founder Erlo Stegen toured Europe in the 1970s-80s.