Future Combat Air System (FCAS)

By Steve Trimble, Tony Osborne, Brian Everstine
An ongoing software problem haunts Lockheed Martin’s production and modernization agenda for the F-35 as a raft of new competitors hit key milestones in 2024.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
The core from Rolls-Royce's Pearl family of business jet engines could power the remote carriers that will operate as a component of FCAS.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Thierry Dubois
The uncrewed combat air vehicles that may accompany the Rafale F5 standard will be designed to enter highly defended zones, Dassault's CEO said Dec. 5.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
Auditors have determined the UK Defense Ministry’s plans to purchase equipment over the next 10 years are again unaffordable.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Helen Chachaty
France is to invest €6.41 billion ($6.75 billion) in the Dassault Rafale fighter program between 2023 and 2026 and has earmarked €5.36 billion after 2026.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
Investments into Eurofighter’s long-term evolution could support European FCAS plans, industry says.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
German industry is urging the government in Berlin to urgently decide on future investments in the Eurofighter.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Guy Norris
ITP had been wholly owned by Rolls since 2016.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
A consortium of German companies has been contracted to begin building the IT platform that is expected to produce the AI systems for the European FCAS.
Sensors & Electronic Warfare

By Steve Trimble
Next-generation fighters will be available when Australia searches for a replacement for a squadron of Boeing F/A-18E/Fs in the mid-2030s.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
Eurofighter upgrades are being paced by the four nations’ future combat air programs and national needs.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Tony Osborne
Major UK defense programs are struggling with a lack of key skills and experience to bring them into service on cost and schedule.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Thierry Dubois, Helen Chachaty
Germany's refusal to deliver Eurofighters to Saudi Arabia is a worry for Dassault chief Eric Trappier with France eying future FCAS exports.
Budget, Policy & Operations

By Helen Chachaty
Future versions of France’s Dassault Rafale might operate alongside an uncrewed combat aerial vehicle derived from Dassault Aviation's nEUROn demonstrator.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Graham Warwick
Our roundup of the main aerospace and defense stories making the news this week.
Aerospace

By Tony Osborne
MBDA will be flight-testing a 400-kg, 4-m uncrewed air system as part of the European Future Combat Air System (FCAS) demonstrator.
Missile Defense & Weapons

By Helen Chachaty
The French aerospace research agency Onera is presenting its two newest defense innovations at the Paris Air Show.
Paris Air Show

By Tony Osborne
The air chiefs of the three Future Combat Air Systems nations–France, Germany, and Spain–have agreed to a joint vision for collaborative air combat.
Paris Air Show

By Joe Anselmo, Brian Everstine, Tony Osborne, Steve Trimble
Hypersonics, missile defense, UAVs and next-generation fighters are in vogue at the Paris Air Show amidst a surge in spending by NATO members.
Paris Air Show

By Helen Massy-Beresford
Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier told the Paris Air Show that Europe should not rely on cloud solutions from beyond the continent for sensitive information.
Paris Air Show

By Tony Osborne
While not becoming an FCAS partner in the contracted industrial phases, Belgium will guide its industry to pursue work that could support future program phases.
Paris Air Show

By Tony Osborne
European missile manufacturer MBDA's Orchestrike technology will allow multiple weapons to communicate their status and position to each other­.
Paris Air Show

By Tony Osborne
Despite increased defense spending, parliamentary hearings are hinting at potentially adverse consequences for some of France’s key defense aerospace programs.
Paris Air Show

By Tony Osborne
The UK is signaling Tempest’s lead over the European FCAS with advances in ground test rigs and engine aerodynamic work.
Aircraft & Propulsion

By Jens Flottau, Tony Osborne
Airbus has begun work on a next-generation aircraft to enter service in 2035, opting for a novel architecture that may enable use of open-rotor engines.
Paris Air Show