Future Combat Air System

Future Combat Air System (FCAS)

Company type	Collaborative project
Industry	Aerospace, Defense
Founded	2017
Founder	Dassault Aviation, Airbus, Indra Sistemas
Headquarters	Europe
Area served	Europe
Key people	Eric Trappier (Dassault CEO)
Products	Next Generation Fighter (NGF), Remote Carrier drones, Combat Cloud
Parent	Dassault Aviation, Airbus, Indra Sistemas

The Future Combat Air System (FCAS), known in French, German, and Spanish as (; ; ), represents a European initiative to develop an integrated combat system of systems. This project is a collaboration between Dassault Aviation, Airbus, and Indra Sistemas. FCAS aims to combine a Next-Generation Weapon System (NGWS) with various aerial platforms designed for upcoming operational environments.

The NGWS concept encompasses remote-controlled carrier units (swarming drones) alongside a New Generation Fighter (NGF)—a proposed sixth-generation jet fighter intended to succeed France's Dassault Rafale as well as Germany’s and Spain’s Eurofighter Typhoon.

A demonstration flight is planned for approximately 2027, with full operational deployment anticipated by 2040. Airbus forecasts that the initial flight of the FCAS fighter jet, integrated with swarming drone technology and connected through an IT-based "combat cloud," will occur between 2028 and 2029.

Contractors

Dassault holds the role of prime contractor for the NGF (the manned fighter aircraft), while Airbus leads the development of the remote carrier vehicles ("drones") and the enabling "combat cloud" infrastructure. The fighter aircraft will be capable of operating from the French Navy's upcoming aircraft carrier.

Safran Aircraft Engines is responsible for spearheading the design and integration of the fighter’s propulsion system, with MTU Aero Engines overseeing engine-related services during the initial research and technology phase.

Each participating nation designated a national industrial coordinator: Airbus for Germany, Indra for Spain, and Dassault for France.

History

The origins of FCAS trace back to the European Technology Acquisition Programme (ETAP), initiated in 2001 with participation from Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy, Sweden, and Spain. ETAP introduced a System of Systems (SoS) methodology that integrates manned aircraft with unmanned platforms such as UCAVs, aiming to improve operational effectiveness beyond what manned systems alone can achieve.

In 2017, Germany and Spain tasked Airbus with preparing a proposal for the Future Combat Air System. The following year at the 2018 ILA Berlin Air Show, Dassault Aviation and Airbus publicly announced their partnership on FCAS development.

By December 2018, Spain showed interest in joining the program and officially became part of it in June 2019. In December 2019, Safran and MTU Aero Engines established a joint venture equally owned by both companies to oversee development, manufacturing, and after-sales support for the new engine designated for the Next Generation Fighter (NGF).

On 12 February 2020, Germany’s parliament authorized Phase 1A of research and development, outlining industrial responsibilities across five subprograms. This phase concluded in early 2022, followed by the initiation of Phase 1B in December 2022.

Belgium joined as an observer in June 2023, with intentions to become a full participant by June 2025. This marks an expansion in European cooperation on advanced fighter jet projects.

Phase 1A - Initial framework contract

In February 2020, Dassault, Airbus, along with partners MTU Aero Engines, Safran, MBDA, and Thales secured the initial framework agreement to commence the demonstrator phase encompassing 18 months of research and development. Notably, Spain was not involved during this stage.

• New Generation Fighter (NGF): Dassault serves as prime contractor with Airbus as principal partner
• Unmanned systems Remote Carrier (RC): Airbus acts as prime contractor supported by MBDA
• Combat Cloud (CC): Airbus leads as prime contractor with Thales as main partner
• Fighter engine: Safran and MTU Aero Engines collaborate as primary partners

The Phase 1A period wrapped up in early 2022.

Phase 1B

On 16 December 2022, contracts for Phase 1B of the Next Generation Weapon System (NGWS) within the FCAS initiative were signed by Dassault Aviation, Airbus, Indra Sistemas, and EUMET. Indra announced a €600 million agreement for this phase, which extends through 2025. This stage establishes the groundwork for Phase 2, planned to continue until 2029 and conclude with flight trials involving operational demonstrators.

On 29 March 2023, Indra, FCMS, and Thales commenced Phase 1B development of the integrated sensor suite for NGWS—the central element of FCAS that includes advanced combat aircraft and accompanying drones.

During Phase 1B, cooperation between Dassault and Airbus encountered difficulties. In March 2025, Dassault’s CEO Eric Trappier highlighted that the success of FCAS relies on all partners acknowledging Dassault as the program’s lead architect and exclusive prime contractor.

Phase 2

According to FlightGlobal, Phase 1B will proceed until partner countries finalize a contract for Phase 2 in 2025, which will push forward the joint development efforts.