Europe has looked at the sky urgently. The great new generation hunting project, the FCASlaunched in 2017, advances in a continent that faces increasingly complex security challenges and, nevertheless, enters a delicate phase. Berlin has put on the table that, if there is no agreement before the end of the year, it will study alternatives that change the photo of the program, According to politician. Spain, project partner, observes a moving board that could alter its weight in the program.
France, Germany and Spain are the three pillars of the FCAS, each with an industrial partner of reference: Dassault, Airbus and Indra. The ultimate goal is to reach 2040 with a system capable of replacing current fighters and making a interoperability jump in Europe. But between that starting point and the goal is opened a permanent negotiation on who leads, what technology is shared and how the work is distributed. That debate, more political than technical, conditions each progress of the program.
From plane to collaborative network. FCAS is committed to a collaborative combat model in which the tripled hunting coexists with drones and remote carriers. Coordination will arrive through a Combat Clouda cloud that ensures safe high -speed communications and that connects with other systems, from satellites to ships or units on land. Airbus is co-leader of the program and leads pillars such as the Remote Carriers and the Combat Cloud, in addition to being the main partner of the NGF demonstrator, while indrating reinforces the Spanish role in areas such as connectivity and technological integration.
GCAP, the other great program. In front of the continental commitment of the FCAS, the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) brings together Italy, the United Kingdom and Japan around a different philosophy. Its manned plane is conceived as a “quarterback”, a coordinator capable of leading formations and orchestrating operations along with drones and other systems. The design is based on five payload pillars: armament, sensors, connectivity, non -kinetic capabilities and computing. According to its promoters, it does not intend to replace the F-35but to complement it and ensure that allied forces have an advanced node in very disputed environments.
Italy, the United Kingdom and Japan boost the GCAP, a sixth generation program centered on global interoperability
One of the main friction points is how the work is distributed. The expected thing was a balanced scheme between France, Germany and Spain, but in Berlin the information published by specialized means according to which Dassault claimed up to 80% of the load of the load of the load of the load of the load of the NGWS. The French company has denied italthough he insists that he needs more decision margin to avoid delays. Germany defends that the contract must be fulfilled and that the distribution remains equitable, while Spain aligns with that same position.
Plan B in Berlin. German frustration translates into discreet movements to explore alternatives. According to the aforementioned media, the Ministry of Defense raised Airbus the possibility of opening the project to Sweden, relying on Saab’s experience with influen’s, or even the United Kingdom, leading the GCAP. Another option is to advance from the hand of Spain if France remains row. The German Air Force, the Luftwaffe, has reported these debates to the Bundestag, the Federal Parliament, where it is already warned that the decision to continue or not with the FCAS cannot be delayed much more.
The FCAS seeks a European collaborative combat system with fighters, drones and fully integrated military cloud
What is Spain played. The Spanish contribution is channeled through Indrawhich seeks to strengthen its role in critical technologies of the program. In public, Berlin has remarked that he maintains full coincidence with Madrid in the distribution of work and the vision of the project. The tuning was staged last week, on September 28, when Pedro Sánchez and Friedrich Merz appeared together in La Moncloa and The German president referred to FCAS in response to a press question.
The President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, and the German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, at a joint conference on September 18
“We share the opinion that the current situation is not satisfactory because we do not advance. The two (Merz and Sánchez) are talking to the French government and we both want as soon as possible that a solution is reached. There is an agreement between France, Germany and Spain on this project. We both know that we need this type of project, but we cannot continue as it is being done now.”
Three scenarios on the table. According to the aforementioned medium, the immediate future of the FCAS is played between three paths. The first, reach an agreement with France to unlock governance and move on to the next phase. The second, to open the door to new partners such as Sweden or the United Kingdom, with everything that would imply in terms of integration and overlapping of programs. The third, to advance with a small nucleus in which Germany and Spain assume leadership if Paris remains firm. Each option implies different industrial and political risks.
The next few weeks will be decisive. In October A meeting is scheduled of defense ministers of Spain, Germany and France to review the status of the program. All eyes will also be placed in the French representative. If you drive a commitment to Airbus, the FCAS may advance; If not, the alternatives already outlined by Germany will charge more strength.
Images | Airbus | La Moncloa
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