TUSSENHAUSEN, Germany, Sept 25 (Reuters) - A senior

German politician said on Thursday that Germany's industrial

partner Airbus had the ability to go it alone with a

new fighter jet if France drops out of the troubled FCAS fighter

project between Paris, Berlin and Madrid.

"Either it goes ahead with our French partner or one has to

think about alternatives," said Bavarian Prime Minister Markus

Soeder, head of the CSU coalition party.

"By the end of the year we need a clear line, a decision.

Airbus would be in a position to deliver," he said, speaking to

reporters after France's Dassault Aviation said it would

be able to act alone.