Future Combat Air System

The Future Combat Air System (FCAS), (French: Système de combat aérien du futur; SCAF; Spanish: 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 Typhoons and Spain's EF-18 Hornets.[4][5]

This article is about the French/German/Spanish air combat system. For the previous British/French and current British project, see Future Combat Air System (UK).

Future Combat Air System
Mock-up of the NGF and a remote carrier at the 2019 Paris Air Show
Role Combat system of systems
Manufacturer
Introduction c. 2035–2040
Primary user French Air and Space Force
Spanish Air and Space Force
German Air Force
New Generation Fighter
Mock-up of the NGF at the 2019 Paris Air Show
Role Sixth-generation jet fighter
National origin France, Germany, Spain
First flight Planned for 2027
Introduction Planned for 2035-2040
Status Under development

A test flight of a demonstrator is expected around 2027 and entry into service around 2040.[6]

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.[7] It will also be carrier-capable and will fly from the French Navy's future aircraft carrier.[8][9][10] 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.[11]

Each country has designated a national industrial coordinator, Airbus for Germany, Indra for Spain and Dassault for France.[12]

History

The FCAS concept was developed in the frame of the ETAP European Technology Acquisition Programme 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).[13][14]

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.[15]

In June 2019 Spain joined the programme.[16]

In June 2023, Belgium became an observer to the FCAS programme.[17]

Illustrations of the New Generation Fighter
  • Interactive 3D model of the FCAS mockup shown at the 2019 Paris Air Show
    Interactive 3D model of the FCAS mockup shown at the 2019 Paris Air Show
  • Livery similar to the illustrations published by Dassault in early 2021
    Livery similar to the illustrations published by Dassault in early 2021
  • Illustration of the aircraft in flight, after the project as of 2022
    Illustration of the aircraft in flight, after the project as of 2022

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

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.

See also

References
  1. "Air superiority and nuclear deterrence dictate manned future fighter for France". Jane's 360.
  2. Pike, John. "Next Gen WS". Global security.
  3. Roblin, Sebastien (5 February 2019). "Forget the F-22 or Su-57: Europe Wants a Deadly 6th Generation Stealth Fighter". The National Interest. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  4. Pike, John. "New Generation Fighter (NGF)". Global security.
  5. Trevithick, Joseph (4 December 2018). "Eurofighter Consortium 2.0 Takes Shape As Spain Set To Join Franco-German Stealth Jet Program". The war zone. The Drive. Retrieved 16 February 2019.
  6. Machi, Vivienne (17 May 2021). "New trinational deal paves way for FCAS demonstrator program". Defense News. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
  7. "Dassault and Airbus unveil New Generation Fighter". flightglobal. Retrieved 25 June 2019.
  8. "Euronaval 2018: France Officially Launches Aircraft Carrier Renewal Program". Navy recognition.
  9. "Good and Bad News for Franco-German Fighter". AIN online.
  10. Dubois, Thierry (23 October 2018). "Dassault Unveils 'New-Gen' Fighter mockup". Aviation Week. Retrieved 21 November 2018.
  11. "Safran and MTU agree on way ahead for next-gen fighter aircraft engine". 5 December 2019.
  12. Sprenger, Sebastian (26 November 2019). "Spain's Indra claims lead in EU electronic-warfare push for future aircraft". Defense News. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  13. "Is The Proposed Airbus Fighter Jet A Non-starter?". www.defenseworld.net. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  14. "EU states eye production of new fighter jet". EUobserver. 12 June 2017. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
  15. "Germany, France to add Spain to fighter program: sources". Reuters. 5 December 2018. Retrieved 7 December 2018.
  16. "La ministra de Defensa española ha firmado en el Salón de Le Bourget la incorporación al programa FCAS por parte española" (in European Spanish). fly-news.es. 17 June 2019. Retrieved 17 June 2019.
  17. "Belgium enters EU programme for 'next generation' fighter jets: sources". The Brussels Times with Belga. 20 June 2023. Retrieved 21 June 2023.
  18. "Safran, MTU agree framework for future fighter engine | Jane's 360". www.janes.com. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  19. Charpentreau, Clement (13 February 2020). "European fighter jet demonstrator receives German greenlight". AeroTime.aero. Retrieved 14 February 2020.
  20. "Spanish Indra justifies role in FCAS Project after Airbus' Opposition". www.defenseworld.net. Retrieved 17 March 2021.
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