Spain to develop FCAS 'system of systems' to replace Hornet fighters

[Zarvan]

An as-yet undefined unmanned combat aerial vehicle, perhaps similar in nature to the nEUROn pictured, will form part of Spain's FCAS system of systems planned for the 2030 timeframe. Source: Alenia Aermacchi
The Spanish Air Force (Ejército del Aire Español (EdAE)) is looking to develop a new "system of systems" to replace its Boeing F/A-18 Hornet fighters in the 2030 timeframe, a senior service official said on 15 November.

Speaking under the Chatham House Rule, the official said that the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) will comprise three parts, made up of about 50 legacy Tranche 2 and Tranche 3 Eurofighter Typhoons that have been upgraded to network with a fifth-generation aircraft; a new fifth-generation aircraft (type and numbers to be decided); and an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (type and numbers to be decided).

The FCAS effort will begin with a broad definition phase that will include a preliminary FCAS analysis (designated Iteration 1). This will be followed by an investigation (Iteration 2) that includes a concept of operations and the FCAS design. A convergence study (Iteration 3) will bring together the elements of the previous studies, with a consolidation phase (Iteration 4) completing the study.

The EdAE's current Typhoon force is comprised of 17 Tranche 1, and 33 Tranche 2 aircraft, with deliveries of 20 Tranche 3 aircraft to begin shortly. While the Tranche 2 and Tranche 3 performance enhancement (PE) packages have followed the lines of the multinational Eurofighter consortium, those for the Tranche 1 aircraft have not. As the official explained, the EdAE was dissatisfied with the scope and the pace of these earlier PE upgrades, and so decided to go its own route.

For the second element in the FCAS system-of-systems, there is currently no fifth-generation Program of Record for the EdAE. However, it is highly likely that the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) will form the basis of this particular element. Interestingly, the official noted that with the Spanish Navy looking to retire its carrier-borne McDonnell-Douglas AV-8B Harrier II in the not-too-distant future, any fifth-generation requirement would be a joint affair between the services.

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