Future Combat Air System: trouble in paradise?

[Dawes]

I'm sure that nobody would have predicted this:

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/1-negotiations-franco-german-fighter-160249656.html

[BansheeOne]

It's long-term German dissatisfaction over French state-directed big industry dominating joint enterprises with smaller privately-owned German companies coming to a boil; or in this case, the French system lead being Dassault, and the German one Airbus, which is already perceived as overly French-dominated. Add the different national cultures, like the extensive workers participation rights in Germany. Recently the general works council of the German part of Airbus Defense & Space piped up about workshare distribution, demanding a German demonstrator aircraft to be built in addition to a French one. The project is also linked to the Future Ground Combat System, which is supposed to be German-led, while FCAS is French-lead; but wariness about French domination in Germany translates into both.

[DB]

I'm fairly sure that I did hint at just this.

It's "French-led" not "French-lead", by the way. this error is common to supposedly native English speakers, so it grinds my gears more than misuse of "whom".

The company I work for has seen extensive resistance to the harmonisation of business with its German arm. The French-UK axis is relatively strong, with Italy a little behind. Germany seems to passively oppose all efforts to harmonise the business processes at all levels.

[BansheeOne]

Quote

Date 20.04.2021

Germany, France set deadline to seal deal on new combat jet

The billion-euro Franco-German project for a new fighter aircraft is in a "very decisive phase," says German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer.

The defense ministers of France and Germany on Tuesday set a deadline for the end of April to reach a deal on the future of a next-generation stealth fighter.

During a visit to Paris, German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer said there were still some final points, involving engine development and legal issues, that needed clarification.

"We as politicians expect the industry to jointly find a viable basis (for the next steps of the project) which we can accept," she told a joint press conference, adding that development of the aircraft was in a "very decisive phase." 

French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly told reporters: "We both think the same thing: we need a deal by the end of April and I am confident we can get there together,"

A first prototype of the new stealth fighter jet, currently known as "the Demonstrator," is scheduled to begin test flights in 2026.

Until recently, progress had been hampered by questions about how to share the responsibility of construction as well as the allocation of intellectual property rights for the cutting-edge technologies used in the plane.

Following weeks of strained negotiations that were putting the plane's development into doubt, manufacturers Airbus and Dassault Aviation reached a burden-sharing deal.

The companies will produce many of the components for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) that is intended to prove the EU's ability to integrate its disparate defense forces and increase its military sovereignty. Plans call for the new plane to be fully operational by 2040, when it is to eventually replace the Eurofighter.

In addition to Germany and France, Spain is also involved in the project.

What else does the project include?

Besides planes, the defense system also includes drones and satellites.

Dassault is leading the jet development side of the project, while Airbus is spearheading the development of the drones and the ultra-fast "combat cloud" communications network designed to harness artificial intelligence capabilities.

Why build now?

French lawmakers warned this month that time was running out to move forward on the plane and its associated drones and network technologies if it is to be operational by 2040 as planned.

Kramp-Karrenbauer said Germany was feeling some time pressure because parliament is being asked to decide on the next stage of the project before elections take place in September.

https://www.dw.com/en/germany-france-set-deadline-to-seal-deal-on-new-combat-jet/a-57269515

[BansheeOne]

Quote

Date 17.05.2021

France, Germany, Spain push ahead with fighter jet project

With billions of euros on the line, Spain, France and Germany agreed on the next stage of building a new European fighter jet. An early prototype is expected to take flight in 2027.

Following weeks of intense talks, France, Spain and Germany pledged to push on with the next stage of developing the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) platform.  The project includes building a next-generation fighter jet and drones, as well as creating a communications network dubbed the "combat cloud" with artificial intelligence capabilities.

The three nations previously clashed over intellectual property and splitting the workload between the NATO allies.

"France, Germany and Spain are building one of the most important tools for their sovereignty and that of Europe in the 21st century," French Armed Forces Minister Florence Parly tweeted.

The FCAS project is Europe's biggest defense program, with the new fighter jet expected to replace France's Rafales and German and Spanish Eurofighters by 2040. The total cost is expected to surpass €100 billion ($121.4 billion).

On Monday, the three countries also pledged to provide a total of €3.5 billion ($4.3 billion) to fund the project until 2024. Each country will be providing one third of the money.

German government running out of time

The pressure to close the deal was especially high in Germany, where the government hopes to push the funding through the parliament before the elections in September.

Germany's Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer praised the breakthrough on Twitter.

"With the fighter jet of the future we are strengthening the capabilities, industry and technology in Europe," she said.

Prototype to fly in 2027

The jet is being developed by France's Dassault Aviation and the European plane-making giant Airbus. On Monday, France's Florence Parly said that an early demonstrator prototype would take to the skies in 2027 — a year later than announced previously.

Additionally, the prototype will be powered by a Rafale engine, giving the producers more time to develop a new engine for the aircraft.

https://www.dw.com/en/france-germany-spain-push-ahead-with-fighter-jet-project/a-57562320