European Combat Air System Demonstrator Contract Awarded
France, Germany, and Spain have awarded a €3.2 billion contract for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) demonstrator phase. The contract covers the design and construction of flying demonstrators.
France's Directorate General of Armament (DGA), on behalf of France, Germany, and Spain, has awarded a €3.2 billion contract for Demonstrator Phase 1B of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS). The contract is with Dassault Aviation, Airbus, Indra, EUMET, and their industrial partners.
The program aims to develop a next-generation fighter (NGF), remote carriers (RC), and connect them through a combat cloud (CC). The contract will fund approximately three and a half years of work on the FCAS demonstrator and its components. The development is intended to lead to flying demonstrators with flights targeted in the 2028-2029 timeframe.
This contract marks a significant step in developing a European combat air system, intended to enhance operational, technological, and industrial sovereignty for the participating nations. The industrial organization is structured around technological pillars, with key companies leading specific domains. Dassault Aviation is the prime contractor for the NGF in France, while Airbus leads on remote carriers and the combat cloud for Germany and Spain.
The agreement builds upon the preceding Phase 1A, which focused on research and development, identifying key technologies, and initiating demonstrator development. This phase 1B will allow for the maturation of required cutting-edge technologies and the consolidation of project architectures, paving the way for future development phases.