Future Combat Air System Explained

The Future Combat Air System (FCAS), (French: Système de combat aérien du futur; SCAF; German: Zukünftiges Luftkampfsystem; Spanish; Castilian: Futuro Sistema Aéreo de Combate; FSAC) is a European combat system of systems under development by Dassault Aviation, Airbus and Indra Sistemas. The FCAS will consist of a Next-Generation Weapon System (NGWS) as well as other air assets in the future operational battlespace.[1] [2] The NGWS's components will be remote carrier vehicles (swarming drones) as well as a New Generation Fighter (NGF) - a sixth-generation jet fighter[3] that by around 2040 will replace current France's Rafales, Germany's and Spain's Typhoons s.[4]

A test flight of a demonstrator is expected around 2027 and entry into service around 2040.[5]

Contractors

Dassault will serve as prime contractor for the NGF, while Airbus will lead the development of accompanying remote carrier vehicles and the broader system's supporting combat cloud.[6] It will also be carrier-capable and will fly from the French Navy's future aircraft carrier.[7] [8] [9] Safran Aircraft Engines will be the prime contractor for the next-generation fighter aircraft engine, taking the lead in engine design and integration, while MTU Aero Engines, as the main partner for the first phase of research and technology, will take the lead in engine services.[10]

Each country has designated a national industrial coordinator, Airbus for Germany, Indra for Spain and Dassault for France.[11]

History

The FCAS concept was developed in the frame of the European Technology Acquisition Programme (ETAP) that was started in 2001 as a co-operation between Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy, Sweden and Spain. The new FCAS concept was a System of Systems (SoS) approach combining manned and unmanned systems, combat aircraft and UCAV, to be more efficient in the envisaged future scenarios than operating with manned systems alone.

In 2017 Germany and Spain asked Airbus to start working on a proposal for a new fighter under the name Future Combat Air System (FCAS).[12] [13]

At the 2018 ILA Berlin Air Show, Dassault Aviation and Airbus announced an agreement to cooperate on the development of the FCAS.

In December 2018, the German Defence Ministry welcomed Spain's expression of interest in the programme.[14]

In June 2019 Spain joined the programme.[15]

In June 2023, Belgium became an observer to the FCAS programme.[16] The country is set to join the programme by June 2025.[17]

In December 2019 Safran and MTU Aero Engines agreed on the foundation of a 50/50 joint venture that will be incorporated by the end of 2021 to manage the development, production, and the after-sales support activities of the new engine to power the NGF.[18]

On 12 February 2020, the first phase (1A) of the research and development program was approved by the German parliament budget committee. It set up the industrial distribution of the first five subprograms.[19]

Development

Initial demonstrator

Phase 1A - Initial framework contract

Dassault, Airbus, together with their partners MTU Aero Engines, Safran, MBDA and Thales, were awarded the initial framework contract which launches the demonstrator phase. Beginning February 2020 it is expected to cover a period of 18 months of research and development. While it assigned different roles to the above-mentioned companies, Spain was left out:[20]

Phase 1B

Additional suppliers will be involved.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Jennings . Gareth . 15 November 2018 . Air superiority and nuclear deterrence dictate manned future fighter for France . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20181115171531/https://www.janes.com/article/84623/air-superiority-and-nuclear-deterrence-dictate-manned-future-fighter-for-france . 15 November 2018 . Janes.
  2. Web site: Pike . John . France + Germany - Next Generation Weapon System . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20221121135756/https://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/europe/nextgenws.htm . 21 November 2022 . Global security.
  3. Web site: Roblin . Sebastien . 5 February 2019 . Forget the F-22 or Su-57: Europe Wants a Deadly 6th Generation Stealth Fighter . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230128040952/https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/forget-f-22-or-su-57-europe-wants-deadly-6th-generation-stealth-fighter-43327 . 28 January 2023 . 16 February 2019 . The National Interest.
  4. Web site: Trevithick . Joseph . 4 December 2018 . Eurofighter Consortium 2.0 Takes Shape As Spain Set To Join Franco-German Stealth Jet Program . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230603073632/https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/25279/eurofighter-consortium-2-0-takes-shape-as-spain-set-to-join-franco-german-stealth-jet-program . 3 June 2023 . 16 February 2019 . The Drive.
  5. Web site: Machi . Vivienne . 2021-05-17 . New trinational deal paves way for FCAS demonstrator program . live . https://archive.today/20210524114640/https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2021/05/17/new-trinational-deal-paves-way-for-fcas-demonstrator-program/ . 2021-05-24 . 2021-09-03 . Defense News . en.
  6. Web site: Hoyle . Craig . 17 June 2019 . Dassault and Airbus unveil New Generation Fighter . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20220923155048/https://www.flightglobal.com/fixed-wing/paris-dassault-and-airbus-unveil-new-generation-fighter/133146.article . 23 September 2022 . 25 June 2019 . FlightGlobal.
  7. Web site: Euronaval 2018: France Officially Launches Aircraft Carrier Renewal Program . Navy recognition.
  8. Web site: Lake . Jon . 12 November 2018 . Good and Bad News for Franco-German Fighter . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20181113030027/https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2018-11-12/good-and-bad-news-franco-german-fighter . 13 November 2018 . Aviation International.
  9. Web site: Dubois . Thierry . 2018-10-23 . Dassault Unveils 'New-Gen' Fighter mockup . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20210201100210/https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/dassault-unveils-new-gen-fighter-mockup . 2021-02-01 . 2018-11-21 . Aviation Week.
  10. Web site: Mackenzie . Christina . 5 December 2019 . Safran and MTU agree on way ahead for next-gen fighter aircraft engine . live . https://archive.today/20240108024554/https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2019/12/05/safran-and-mtu-agree-on-way-ahead-for-next-gen-fighter-aircraft-engine/ . 8 January 2024 . Defense News.
  11. Web site: Sprenger . Sebastian . 2019-11-26 . Spain's Indra claims lead in EU electronic-warfare push for future aircraft . https://archive.today/20191126132659/https://www.defensenews.com/global/europe/2019/11/26/spains-indra-claims-lead-in-eu-electronic-warfare-push-for-future-aircraft/ . 2019-11-26 . 2021-03-17 . Defense News . en-US.
  12. Web site: 7 July 2017 . Is The Proposed Airbus Fighter Jet A Non-starter? . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240108024949/https://www.defensemirror.com/news/19796/Is_The_Proposed_Airbus_Fighter_Jet_A_Non_starter_ . 8 January 2024 . Defense Mirror.
  13. Web site: Rettman . Andrew . 12 June 2017 . EU states eye production of new fighter jet . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231004133349/https://euobserver.com/green-economy/138193 . 4 October 2023 . 17 March 2021 . . en.
  14. Web site: Shalal . Andrea . Binnie . Isla . 5 December 2018 . Germany, France to add Spain to fighter program: sources . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231025102611/https://www.reuters.com/article/us-europe-military-spain/germany-france-to-add-spain-to-fighter-program-sources-idUSKBN1O429R . 25 October 2023 . 7 December 2018 . Reuters.
  15. News: Calvo . Luis . 17 June 2019 . La ministra de Defensa española ha firmado en el Salón de Le Bourget la incorporación al programa FCAS por parte española . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230205213943/https://fly-news.es/industria/especial-paris-air-show-2019/espana-ya-oficialmente-pais-fcas/ . 5 February 2023 . 17 June 2019 . fly-news.es . es-ES.
  16. News: 20 June 2023 . Belgium enters EU programme for 'next generation' fighter jets: sources . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230623003228/https://www.brusselstimes.com/562009/belgium-enters-eu-programme-for-next-generation-fighter-jets . 23 June 2023 . 21 June 2023 . The Brussels Times with Belga.
  17. Web site: Martin . Tim . 2023-11-27 . Belgium to join Europe’s FCAS next-gen fighter program in June 2025 . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231217233820/https://breakingdefense.com/2023/11/belgium-to-join-europes-fcas-program-in-june-2025/ . 17 December 2023 . 2023-11-27 . Breaking Defense . en-US.
  18. Web site: Jennings . Gareth . 3 December 2019 . Safran, MTU agree framework for future fighter engine . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240108025800/https://www.janes.com/defence-news/news-detail/safran-mtu-agree-framework-for-future-fighter-engine . 8 January 2024 . 28 April 2020 . Janes.
  19. News: Charpentreau . Clement . 2020-02-13 . European fighter jet demonstrator receives German greenlight . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20230610191205/https://www.aerotime.aero/articles/24554-european-fighter-jet-demonstrator-receives-german-greenlight . 2023-06-10 . 2020-02-14 . AeroTime.aero . en-US.
  20. Web site: 2020-02-20 . Spanish Indra justifies role in FCAS Project after Airbus' Opposition . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20240108030106/https://www.defensemirror.com/news/26382/Spanish_Indra_justifies_role_in_FCAS_Project_after_Airbus__Opposition . 2024-01-08 . 2021-03-17 . Defense Mirror.

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