Future Combat Air System (UK)

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The Future Offensive Air System was a study to replace the Royal Air Force's strike capability, at the time provided by the Tornado GR4. Initial operational capability was expected around 2017. The FOAS was cancelled in June 2005 and was replaced by the Deep and Persistent Offensive Capability (DPOC) requirement, which was itself cancelled in the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review.

Contents

Various abortive projects and collaborations followed. Since 2018 the UK has been pursuing its Combat Air Strategy, a key part of which is the Future Combat Air System. [1] As of 2021, the main output of this has been the BAE Systems Tempest aircraft concept and related technologies which will replace the Typhoon. [2] [3]

France, Germany and Spain are collaborating on a replacement aircraft for their Rafale and Typhoon aircraft, also titled Future Combat Air System.

History

In 1995, a Future Offensive Aircraft (FOA) was revealed, then a collaboration with Dassault, which would replace the Royal Air Force's (RAF) Panavia Tornado in the strike role. [4] [5] FOA became the Future Offensive Air System in December 1996, with an intended in-service date of 2015. [6] The requirement was confirmed by the Strategic Defence Review which was published in July 1998. [7] The concept was for a system of systems, rather than a single aircraft type. [7] [8] In 2004, Flight International suggested the options included "manned and unmanned combat aircraft, long-range cruise missiles, large non-penetrating aircraft and air-launched unmanned air vehicles". [9]

In 2005, the FOAS project was cancelled and replaced by the Deep and Persistent Offensive Capability (DPOC). [10] The 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review announced the government's intention to switch its planned carrier aircraft from the short take-off and vertical landing F-35B Lightning to the F-35C carrier variant. [11] The DPOC had been cancelled in July 2010, with the more capable F-35C deemed suitable to cover the resulting "capability gap". [12] In May 2012 this decision was reversed due to the costs of modifying the Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers for the F-35C. [13]

Future Combat Air System

Earlier in 2012 the Ministry of Defence (MoD) launched a new 4 year study, the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), for future "unmanned combat air systems". BAE Systems, one of the companies involved said this would "inform the MoD's unmanned air system strategy over the coming decades to ensure that the best use is made of these new technologies". [14]

In November 2014 FCAS transitioned to an Anglo-French feasibility study of unmanned aircraft. The British and French governments awarded 6 development contracts for FCAS; BAE and Dassault would develop the airframe, Rolls-Royce and Safran the engine, and Selex ES and Thales the electronics and communications. The collaboration benefitted from prior development of the BAE Systems Taranis and Dassault nEUROn demonstrators. In March 2016 the UK and France announced their intention to invest £1.54 billion to advance the project to its next stage. [15]

Divergent UK and French/German/Spanish projects

In April 2018, Dassault Aviation and Airbus announced an agreement to cooperate on the development of a stealth fighter jet as a replacement for French Rafale, German Eurofighter and Spanish F-18 Hornet, also called Future Combat Air System (FCAS) or SCAF. A test flight of a demonstrator is expected around 2025 and entry into service around 2040. [16]

In July 2018 the MoD published its Combat Air Strategy. The key elements of this are: [17] [18]

The document describes combat air as "An aircraft, manned or unmanned, whose prime function is to conduct air-to-air and/or air-to-surface combat operations in a hostile and/or contested environment, whilst having the ability to concurrently conduct surveillance, reconnaissance, electronic warfare and command and control tasks." [18]

Also in July 2018, BAE unveiled the Tempest as the planned sixth-generation fighter for the RAF. [19]

Defence in a Competitive Age

The 2021 Defence command paper Defence in a Competitive Age announced a £2 billion investment in FCAS and the following aspiration:

"FCAS will deliver an innovative mix of crewed, uncrewed and autonomous platforms including swarming drones. This will deliver an advanced combat air system capable of fighting in the most hostile environments. The development of novel technologies, and a step change in how we use simulators for mission rehearsal and training, will enable the Royal Air Force to be among the most technologically innovative, productive and lethal air forces in the world." [20]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Royal Air Force</span> Air and space force of the United Kingdom

The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). Following the Allied victory over the Central Powers in 1918, the RAF emerged as the largest air force in the world at the time. Since its formation, the RAF has taken a significant role in British military history. In particular, during the Second World War, the RAF established clear air superiority over Hermann Göring's Luftwaffe in the Battle of Britain, and led the allied strategic bombing effort.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eurofighter Typhoon</span> 1994 multi-role combat aircraft family by Eurofighter

The Eurofighter Typhoon is a European multinational twin-engine, canard delta wing, multirole fighter. The Typhoon was designed originally as an air-superiority fighter and is manufactured by a consortium of Airbus, BAE Systems and Leonardo that conducts the majority of the project through a joint holding company, Eurofighter Jagdflugzeug GmbH. The NATO Eurofighter and Tornado Management Agency, representing the UK, Germany, Italy and Spain, manages the project and is the prime customer.

<i>Queen Elizabeth</i>-class aircraft carrier Royal Navy aircraft carrier class

The Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers of the United Kingdom's Royal Navy consists of two vessels. The lead ship of her class, HMS Queen Elizabeth, was named on 4 July 2014 in honour of Elizabeth I and was commissioned on 7 December 2017. Her sister ship, HMS Prince of Wales, was launched on 21 December 2017, and was commissioned on 10 December 2019. They form the central components of the UK Carrier Strike Group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Future Combat Air System</span> European sixth-generation jet fighter project

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 Dassault Aviation, Airbus and Indra Sistemas. 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 as well as a New Generation Fighter (NGF) - a sixth-generation jet fighter that by around 2040 will replace current France's Rafales, Germany's Typhoons and Spain's EF-18 Hornets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eurofighter Typhoon variants</span> Type of aircraft

The Eurofighter Typhoon is in service with nine nations: United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Spain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, and Austria, with orders for all nine customers still pending as of September 2017. The aircraft has, as of 2016, been provided in a basic air-defense form and has been upgraded to newer production standards which include internal IRST, air-to-ground precision strike capability, and HMSS helmets. Most of the major systems including the CAPTOR radar and the Defence Aids Sub-System (DASS) are expected to be improved and updated over time, with the radar being updated to an AESA, being the CAPTOR-E/CAESAR, of which the Kuwait Air Force will be the inaugural operator, with first deliveries of their 28 new-built aircraft to commence in 2019.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">European multilateral defence procurement</span> How the continent collectively obtains its weapons

European multilateral defence procurement refers to the collective armaments purchasing policies of European nations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dassault nEUROn</span> Experimental unmanned combat aerial vehicle

The Dassault nEUROn is an experimental unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) being developed with international cooperation, led by the French company Dassault Aviation. Countries involved in this project include France, Greece, Italy, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. The design goal is to create a stealthy, autonomous UAV that can function in medium-to-high threat combat zones. Comparable projects include the British BAE Systems Taranis, German/Spanish EADS Barracuda, Turkish Baykar Bayraktar Kızılelma and TAI Anka-3, American Boeing X-45 and Northrop Grumman X-47B, the Indian DRDO AURA, and the Russian Mikoyan Skat and Sukhoi Okhotnik.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joint Combat Aircraft</span> F-35 aircraft in UK service

The Joint Combat Aircraft (JCA) is the official designation of the United Kingdom Ministry of Defence used for the F-35 Lightning II. The F-35, developed from the X-35, is the result of the Joint Strike Fighter program.

Replica was a design study for an envisioned military aircraft with stealth capabilities, developed by British defence manufacturer BAE Systems. It was ultimately not pursued as the British government chose to proceed with involvement in the American Joint Strike Fighter programme instead, which ultimately led to the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">BAE Systems Taranis</span> Prototype British military drone

The BAE Systems Taranis is a British demonstrator programme for unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) technology, under development primarily by the defence contractor BAE Systems Military Air & Information. The aircraft, which is named after the Celtic god of thunder Taranis, first flew in 2013. An unmanned warplane, the Taranis is designed to fly intercontinental missions, and would carry a variety of weapons, enabling it to attack both aerial and ground targets. It uses stealth technology, giving it a low radar profile, and is controllable via satellite link from anywhere on Earth.

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The planning for the future of the Royal Air Force involves supporting ongoing British military operations, the introduction of new aircraft types including unmanned aerial vehicles, greater focus on network enabled capability and increasing interoperability with members of NATO, team tempest, and mixed crewed fighters. From the updated plans of the RAF (2021) state that the new initiative will focus on becoming carbon net-zero, with strategies such as using sustainable aviation fuels in aircraft. The RAF also are looking into investing in the maintenance of the aircraft to ensure success of future operations.

A sixth-generation fighter is a conceptualized class of jet fighter aircraft design more advanced than the fifth-generation jet fighters that are currently in service and development. Several countries have announced the development of a national sixth-generation aircraft program, including the United States, India, Russia and China, while Japan, Italy, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Spain, and Sweden have joined together in collaborative multinational programs in an effort to spread development costs. The first sixth-generation fighters are expected to enter service in the 2030s.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">BAE Systems Tempest</span> Proposed fighter aircraft concept by BAE Systems

The BAE Systems Tempest is a proposed sixth-generation fighter aircraft that is under development in the United Kingdom for the Royal Air Force (RAF). The aircraft is intended to enter service from 2035, gradually replacing the Eurofighter Typhoon. It is being developed as part of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme by a consortium known as Team Tempest, which includes the Ministry of Defence, BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Leonardo, and MBDA UK. £2 billion is planned to be spent by the British government on the initial phase of the project up to 2025.

Eurofighter Typhoon procurement is the planned selection and purchase of the Eurofighter Typhoon jet fighter by various countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spirit Mosquito</span> British unmanned combat aerial vehicle

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Global Combat Air Programme</span> UK/Japan/Italy aircraft development and acquisition programme

The Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) is a multinational initiative led by the United Kingdom, Japan, and Italy to develop a sixth-generation stealth fighter. The programme aims to replace the Eurofighter Typhoon in service with the Royal Air Force and the Italian Air Force, and the Mitsubishi F-2 in service with the Japan Air Self-Defense Force.

A loyal wingman is a proposed type of unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) which incorporates artificial intelligence (AI) and is capable of collaborating with the next generation of manned combat aircraft, including sixth-generation fighters and bombers such as the Northrop Grumman B-21 Raider. Also unlike the conventional UCAV, the loyal wingman is expected to be capable of surviving on the battlefield but to be significantly lower-cost than a manned aircraft with similar capabilities. In the US, the concept is known as the collaborative combat aircraft (CCA).

References

  1. ↑ "£30-million injection for UK's first uncrewed fighter aircraft". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2021-03-17.
  2. ↑ Taylor, Trevor (November 2000). "Gambling Responsibly and the UK Tempest Programme: Experiences, Risks and Opportunities" (PDF). rusi.org. Royal United Services Institute. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-11-30. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
  3. ↑ "Combat Air Strategy: An ambitious vision for the future" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. 16 July 2018. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
  4. ↑ Gray, Bernard (April 20, 1995, Thursday). US deal signed to develop military jets: Project could threaten British involvement in future European aircraft programmes. Financial Times (London,England)
  5. ↑ Bruce, Ian Bruce (February 22, 1995). Britain in £100m top secret stealth plane research. The Herald (Glasgow)
  6. ↑ February, 1997. No Man's Land: UAV's Take Off. Defense & Foreign Affairs' Strategic Policy
  7. 1 2 "Strategic Defence Review" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. July 1998.
  8. ↑ (August 2003). RAF flying into the future. Journal of Electronic Defense.
  9. ↑ Hoyle, Craig (6 April 2004). "UK to kick-off FOAS programme". Flight Global. Retrieved 2021-03-17.
  10. ↑ Cenciotti, David. (September 10, 2019). Italy Joins Tempest Becoming Third Nation To Partner On The Program To Develop A 6th Generation Fighter. The Aviationist.
  11. ↑ "Securing Britain in an Age of Uncertainty: The Strategic Defence and Security Review" (PDF). HM Government. 19 October 2010. Retrieved 18 November 2018.
  12. ↑ "Ministry of Defence: Carrier Strike" (PDF). www.nao.org.uk. National Audit Office. 7 July 2011.
  13. ↑ "British U-turn on US jets damages credibility of UK defence chiefs". the Guardian. 2012-05-10. Retrieved 2021-03-17.
  14. ↑ Hoyle, Craig (17 January 2012). "UK funds new UCAS research effort". Flight International. Retrieved 2021-03-17.
  15. ↑ "Analysis: Europe presses on with UAV autonomy quest". Flight International. 7 June 2017.
  16. ↑ Roblin, Sebastien (2018-05-04). "Will Germany and France Develop Europe's First Stealth Fighter?". The National Interest. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  17. ↑ Taylor, Trevor (November 2000). "Gambling Responsibly and the UK Tempest Programme: Experiences, Risks and Opportunities" (PDF). rusi.org. Royal United Services Institute. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-11-30. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
  18. 1 2 "Combat Air Strategy: An ambitious vision for the future" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. 16 July 2018. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
  19. ↑ "UK unveils new Tempest fighter jet model". BBC News. 2018-07-16. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  20. ↑ Defence in a Competitive Age (PDF). Ministry of Defence. March 2021. ISBN   978-1-5286-2462-6 . Retrieved 22 March 2021.
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