Airbus has proposed building two separate warplanes to rescue Europe’s stalled Future Combat Air System.
The €100bn project has been slowed by a dispute with Dassault Aviation over leadership of the next-generation fighter.
Chief executive Guillaume Faury said a split solution could protect the wider programme.
FCAS also includes drones and a digital combat cloud that are progressing more smoothly.
He stressed that governments must decide the project’s structure and partners.
Tensions increased after German chancellor Friedrich Merz said the planned jet does not match Germany’s needs.
Berlin does not require a nuclear-capable aircraft, while France does.
Germany, France and Spain must soon decide whether to continue with the fighter element.
Airbus reported a 23% rise in annual profit to €5.2bn.
However, its shares fell after supply-chain shortages forced it to cut passenger-jet production targets.
Engine delays from Pratt & Whitney have slowed output of the A320 family.
The company still plans to deliver about 870 aircraft this year.
Meanwhile, rival Boeing increased deliveries to 600 jets in 2025, its best result since 2018.
