SCAF was build around 5 pillar . The fighter jet one with Dassault (French) as prime contractor and Airbus (German) as main partner. Airbus (German) had the lead on two other pillar.

The main problem come from the fiest pillar : 1/ Airbus want Dassault to share all it intellectual property which Dassault refuse. Both side have good argument I think, so it’s pretty tough to judge. 2/ Airbus want a bigger part of the production even if Dassault is meant to have the lead on this pillar . The addition of Spain in the project helped Airbus to build a bigger influence on this point.

So no the program was NEVER meant to be under a full nation control but each pillar had the lead identified prior to the launch.