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 Airbus, Thales Group, Indra Sistemas and Dassault Aviation. The FCAS will consist of a Next-Generation Weapon System (NGWS) as well as other air assets in the future operational battlespace. The NGWS’s components will be remote carrier vehicles (swarming drones) as well as a New Generation Fighter (NGF) – a sixth-generation jet fighter that by around 2035–2040 will replace current France’s Rafales, Germany’s Typhoons and Spain’s EF-18 Hornets.
A test flight of a demonstrator is expected around 2025 and entry into service around 2040
| Role | Combat system of systems |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer |
|
| Introduction | c. 2040 |
| Primary user |
|
| Role | Sixth-generation jet fighter |
|---|---|
| National origin | France Germany Spain |
| First flight | Planned after 2025 |
| Introduction | Planned for 2040 |
| Status | Under development |
Photos Rob Vogelaar
