"After all the mess we've been causing with most multi-national aviation programs, I currently can't see anybody risking to develop another expensive aircraft with the Germans."
but then who do we deal with? It seems no major aircarft programme can be executed outside the USA and maybe Russia
The UK has had some terrible experiences with just about every European country on all sorts of weapons (frigates anyone?)
Until the European defence industry is genuinly pan-european with only one or two contractors countries will always bend and twist to maximise advantages for their own boys at home
The French often go their own way but it's very expensive and very risky if what you build doesn't sell overseas so you have to accept a less than state-of the art solution in order to maximise export potential
The UK always goes for the best, most expensive kit and thus we have problems exporting