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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[1] and was replaced by the Deep and Persistent Offensive Capability (DPOC) requirement, which was itself cancelled in the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review.

Various abortive projects and collaborations followed. Since 2018 the UK has been pursuing its Combat Air Strategy. As of 2021, the main output of this has been the BAE Systems Tempest aircraft concept and related technologies which will replaced the Typhoon.[2][3] France, Germany and Spain are collaborating on the Future Combat Air System which will replaced their Rafale and Typhoon aircraft.

History

In 1995, a Future Offensive Aircraft (FOA) was revealed, then a collaboration with Dassault, which would replace the 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 2012 France signed a memorandum of understanding to join the RAF's latest programme for an unmanned Future Combat Air System (FCAS), which will build upon the BAE Systems Taranis and Dassault nEUROn demonstrators.

Under the terms of an Anglo-French development contract announced in 2014, parts from the Taranis will be combined with the Dassault nEUROn in a joint European UCAV.[10]

At the 2018 ILA Berlin Air Show, 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, called Future Combat Air System (FCAS) (Template:Lang-fr). A test flight of a demonstrator is expected around 2025 and entry into service around 2040.[11][12][13][14][15][16] It was designated New Generation Fighter.

In July 2018, BAE Systems unveiled the Tempest as the planned sixth-generation fighter for the Royal Air Force.[17]

References

  1. ^ "FOAS (Future Offensive Air System), United Kingdom". Air Force Technology. SPG Media Limited. 2005. Retrieved 2008-07-13.[unreliable source?]
  2. ^ Taylor, Trevor (November 2000). "Gambling Responsibly and the UK Tempest Programme: Experiences, Risks and Opportunities" (PDF). rusi.org. Royal United Services Institute. Retrieved 2021-03-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  3. ^ "Combat Air Strategy: An ambitious vision for the future" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. 16 July 2018. Retrieved 2021-03-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  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. ^ a b "Strategic Defence Review" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. July 1998.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  10. ^ "Award of £120M Anglo-French Defence Co-Operation Contract". Defense-Aerospace.com. 5 November 2014. Retrieved 11 November 2014.
  11. ^ Roblin, Sebastien (2018-05-04). "Will Germany and France Develop Europe's First Stealth Fighter?". The National Interest. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  12. ^ "Airbus and Dassault Launch a New FCAS—without BAE". Aviation International News. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  13. ^ "Airbus, Dassault Join Forces on Future Combat Aircraft for Europe". Avionics. 2018-04-25. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  14. ^ "ILA: Airbus, Dassault cement FCAS pact". Flightglobal.com. 2018-04-25. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  15. ^ "Germany-France to develop Eurofighter/Rafale replacement". AviationAnalysis.net. Retrieved 2018-07-18.
  16. ^ Editorial, Reuters. "Airbus, Dassault to team up for new fighter jet project". U.S. Retrieved 2018-07-18. {{cite news}}: |first= has generic name (help)
  17. ^ "UK unveils new Tempest fighter jet model". BBC News. 2018-07-16. Retrieved 2018-07-18.


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