FCAS on life support and may be terminal

[RichardHurt]

Germany is considering separating from FCAS and joining with either Sweden or the UK in their programs, leaving France to go on with FCAS. 
https://www.ft.com/content/29f56fd5-d831...6918231f09

I know this is something you get often. But since the F35 programs beginnings I kind of stopped watching for news about newer airframes.
Could you please give a link that outlines the expectations and the probable reality of such a craft.
Or you could get all fancy with your god like speak of crafts in general! I am sure we all would love to read your personal break down!

[Zaphod58]

I know this is something you get often. But since the F35 programs beginnings I kind of stopped watching for news about newer airframes.
Could you please give a link that outlines the expectations and the probable reality of such a craft.
Or you could get all fancy with your god like speak of crafts in general! I am sure we all would love to read your personal break down!

FCAS is following NGAD in that it would be a family of systems. It would consist of the Next Generation Weapons System, which itself would consist of swarming drones, and the manned New Generation Fighter. The initial schedule had the NGF flying in 2027, with service entry in 2040. The first flight of NGW with a drone swarm, connected by the combat cloud was planned for 2028-29. 

Phase 1A began in 2020, with Dassault and Airbus being prime and main partners for NGF, Airbus and MBDA on unmanned systems, Airbus and Thales on the combat cloud, and Safran and MTU on the engines. 

Phase 1B was the begining of sensor integration and things falling apart. In March of this year, the Dassault CEO said that success of the program was recognition by all partners that Dassault was the architect of the program and it would only succeed if there was a prime contractor, being Dassault.

Other than the New Generation Fighter being 6th Gen, there's very little out there, as the program hasn't gotten very far. There was a rendering released in 2020 or 2022 that showed what they wanted NGW to look like. 



The entire program is another example of what happens when Europe tries to do joint programs in the defense industry. They like to talk the talk, but when it comes time to walk the walk, Europe has a very hard time. Until they can get that solved, joint programs between European partners are going to be difficult to pull off at best, impossible at worst.

[RichardHurt]

Didn't  Dassault have a craft that was considered undesirable but cost effective some many years ago?
And I am not sure of the inner workings but what you say seems to fit the bill when it comes to defense technologies and such.
We get what we can get and if sending a few bones to an ally helps economic retaliations then so be it. I am sure that's what they tell themselves anyway.
BTW thank you for the break down. I am sure we all here enjoyed that.

[Signal Witch]

Germany is considering separating from FCAS and joining with either Sweden or the UK in their programs, leaving France to go on with FCAS. 
https://www.ft.com/content/29f56fd5-d831...6918231f09

They really should. The French are so.... Well, you know...

French.

[RichardHurt]

They really should. The French are so.... Well, you know...

French.

I'll leave Zaph alone but I'll bug you!
Is there the capabilities of these new craft to have the ability to provide close air support or will they be strictly used for not that and the f35 continue to take control of the A10 in that regard?

[Signal Witch]

I'll leave Zaph alone but I'll bug you!
Is there the capabilities of these new craft to have the ability to provide close air support or will they be strictly used for not that and the f35 continue to take control of the A10 in that regard?

 FCAS is being built as an air-dominance and deep-strike system, (like the F-22). Its manned version will work with remote-carrier drones and a secure “combat cloud.” Everything about its shape, sensors, and weapons is aimed at beating advanced radars and missiles, not flying low over a fight with a gun.
 
So, the FCAS will be their tool for high-end penetration and air superiority, while in the absence of A-10's, F-35s, UAVs, and rotary assets stay responsible for CAS.

[Blackfingers]

Reminds me of the the X47B.

[Zaphod58]

So in an interesting twist, the UK is prepared to allow Germany to join their Next Gen Fighter program if they split with France.

[Blackfingers]

Cant for the life of me find holes in that logic :)
Didnt Uk and Germany work together for the Tonka?

[Zaphod58]

Financial Times is reporting that Germany and France are in talks to drop the manned fighter, and instead build a command and control system. 

https://www.ft.com/content/e0cc4893-d1c3...5cedd4b46d