Who snorts in Germany on FCAS
The Bundestag has released funds for the next phase of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), but not without reservations (especially from the SPD)
The Franco-German-Spanish Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project takes off.
The Bundestag has given the green light to fund the next steps for the sixth generation fighter program with the aim of replacing the Rafales and Eurofighters by 2040.
On June 23, German lawmakers approved a 4.5 billion euro ($ 5.37 billion) deal that allows the project to move to phase 1B and 2 of the demonstration program.
This means that the industries involved (Dassault for France, Airbus for Germany and Indra for Spain) can start with the development of the system.
All the details.
THE GREEN LIGHT FROM THE GERMAN BUNDESTAG
In May, the three countries reached an agreement on the next stages in the development of FCAS, after the frictions of recent months. France and Germany had originally set the end of April for an agreement, but disagreements over intellectual property rights had stalled the negotiations.
Berlin, Madrid and Paris will equally share the cost of 3.5 billion euros to be able to start the definition phase of a demonstrator of the next generation fighter that should fly by 2027. The total cost of the program is estimated at over 100 billion. EUR.
But the Budget and Defense commissions of the Bundestag had to approve the allocation of 4.5 billion euros over six years to support the signing of the development contract for the FCAS program. Approval obtained this week.
WITH RESERVE
However, the committee did not give its financial validation for phase 2, which corresponds to the design of the demonstrators (2024-2027).
"With the Eurofighter follow-up project, FCAS, we still have many questions," said deputy Dennis Rohde (Spd) . “This is why we are formulating hard and concrete guidelines with which we oblige the Minister of Defense to follow up on the points missed so far. We have formulated clear conditions for the further progress of the project and therefore we take into account the criticisms of the Federal Finance Control and those of the Federal Office of Procurement of the Army ”.
“In order to enable the research and development of the project, we are now releasing the necessary budget. For all further financial obligations, however, contrary to what is requested, the minister must obtain the approval of the budget commission again ”.
PHASE 1B
As La Tribune points out, “Phase 1B represents a financial volume of cooperation of approximately 2.5 billion euros, of which 700 million euros for pillar 1 (combat aircraft). Germany's share would amount to one third of the total, or around 830 million euros. To this must be added approximately 1 billion euros, which corresponds to national developments in Germany, France and Spain. This is a total of 3.5 billion euros. These developments carried out by national programs for reasons of sovereignty will contribute to phase 1B of the FCAS ”.
THE INDUSTRIES INVOLVED
The main national companies involved in FCAS are Dassault for France, Airbus Defense and Space for Germany and Indra for Spain.
The demonstration part of the FCAS program is scheduled for 2026 or 2027, with the entire "system of systems" to be deployed around 2040.
COMPETITION WITH THE TEMPEST
Competing with the Franco-German-Spanish program will be the Tempest project, an air combat system of the future designed by the United Kingdom with Italy and Sweden through Bae, Rolls Royce, Leonardo and Saab.
BECAUSE THE FCAS WILL ALSO INTEREST LEONARDO
"Germany wants its industry to play an important role in the FCAS program which represents a great opportunity for the German electronics company, Hensoldt", the experts of Banca Akros commented a few days ago, recalling the recent acquisition of 25.1% of the capital of Hensoldt by Leonardo.
“The Tempest and FCAS programs could eventually converge; in this case Leonardo will be well positioned to play a significant role in the program as regards airborne electronics ”concluded Banca Akros.
This is a machine translation from Italian language of a post published on Start Magazine at the URL https://www.startmag.it/innovazione/chi-sbuffa-in-germania-sul-fcas/ on Fri, 25 Jun 2021 08:06:04 +0000.