February 15, 2020 | International, Aerospace
Paris/Munich, February 12, 2020 – The governments of France and Germany have awarded Dassault Aviation, Airbus, together with their partners MTU Aero Engines, Safran, MBDA and Thales, the initial framework contract (Phase 1A), which launches the demonstrator phase for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS).
This framework contract covers a first period of 18 months and initiates work on developing the demonstrators and maturing cutting-edge technologies, with the ambition to begin flight tests as soon as 2026.
Since early 2019, the industrial partners have been working on the future architecture as part of the programme's so called Joint Concept Study. Now, the FCAS programme enters into another decisive phase with the launch of the demonstrator phase.
This phase will, in a first step, focus on the main technological challenges per domains:
A Simulation Environment will be jointly developed between the involved companies to ensure the consistency between demonstrators.
The launch of the Demonstrator Phase underlines the political confidence and determination of the FCAS partner nations and the associated industry to move forward and cooperate in a fair and balanced manner. The increased momentum enables industry to deploy the necessary resources and best capabilities to develop this decisive European defence project. FCAS will be the cornerstone project guaranteeing Europe's future operational, industrial and technological sovereignty.
The next important step in the FCAS programme will be the onboarding of Spain and the involvement of additional suppliers from Phase 1B onwards, which will succeed Phase 1A after its successful conclusion.
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About Airbus
Airbus is a global leader in aeronautics, space and related services. In 2018 it generated revenues of € 64 billion and employed a workforce of around 134,000. Airbus offers the most comprehensive range of passenger airliners. Airbus is also a European leader providing tanker, combat, transport and mission aircraft, as well as one of the world's leading space companies. In helicopters, Airbus provides the most efficient civil and military rotorcraft solutions worldwide.
Media contacts
Martin Agüera martin.aguera@airbus.com +49 175 227 4369
Florian Taitsch florian.taitsch@airbus.com +49 151 168 31052
This and other press releases and high resolution photos are available on: AirbusMedia
About Dassault Aviation
With over 10,000 military and civil aircraft (including 2,500 Falcons) delivered in more than 90 countries over the last century, Dassault Aviation has built up expertise recognized worldwide in the design, development, sale and support of all types of aircraft, ranging from the Rafale fighter, to the high-end Falcon family of business jets and military drones. In 2018, Dassault Aviation reported revenues of €5.1 billion.
The company has 12 750 employees.
Media contact
Nathalie Bakhos Nathalie-Beatrice.Bakhos@dassault-aviation.com +33 (0)1 47 11 92 75
About MBDA
MBDA is the only European group capable of designing and producing missiles and missile systems that correspond to the full range of current and future operational needs of the three armed forces (land, sea and air).
With a significant presence in five European countries and within the USA, in 2018 MBDA achieved revenue of
3.2 billion euros with an order book of 17.4 billion euros. With more than 90 armed forces customers in the world, MBDA is a world leader in missiles and missile systems. In total, the group offers a range of 45 missile systems and countermeasures products already in operational service and more than 15 others currently in development.
MBDA is jointly owned by Airbus (37.5%), BAE Systems (37.5%) and Leonardo (25%).
Media contact
Jean Dupont jean.dupont@mbda-systems.com +33 (0) 633 37 64 66
About MTU Aero Engines
MTU Aero Engines AG is Germany's leading engine manufacturer. The company is a technological leader in low-pressure turbines, high-pressure compressors, turbine center frames as well as manufacturing processes and repair techniques. In the commercial OEM business, the company plays a key role in the development, manufacturing and marketing of high-tech components together with international partners. Some 30 percent of today's active aircraft in service worldwide have MTU components on board. In the commercial maintenance sector the company ranks among the top 3 service providers for commercial aircraft engines and industrial gas turbines. The activities are combined under the roof of MTU Maintenance. In the military arena, MTU Aero Engines is Germany's industrial lead company for practically all engines operated by the country's military. MTU operates a network of locations around the globe; Munich is home to its corporate headquarters. In fiscal 2018, the company had a workforce of some 10,000 employees and posted consolidated sales of approximately 4.6 billion euros.
Media contact
Eckhard Zanger eckhard.zanger@mtu.de +49 176 1000 6158
About Thales
Thales (Euronext Paris: HO) is a global technology leader shaping the world of tomorrow today. The Group provides solutions, services and products to customers in the aeronautics, space, transport, digital identity and security, and defence markets. With 80,000 employees in 68 countries, Thales generated sales of €19 billion in 2018
(on a pro forma basis including Gemalto). Thales is investing in particular in digital innovations — connectivity, Big Data, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity — technologies that support businesses, organisations and governments in their decisive moments.
Media contact
Maria Mellouli maria.mellouli@thalesgroup.com +33 (0)1 57 77 84 57
About Safran
Safran is an international high-technology group, operating in the aircraft propulsion and equipment, space and defense markets. Safran has a global presence, with more than 95,000 employees and sales of 21 billion euros in 2018. Working alone or in partnership, Safran holds world or European leadership positions in its core markets. Safran undertakes Research & Development programs to meet fast-changing market requirements, with total R&D expenditures of around 1.5 billion euros in 2018. Safran is listed on the Euronext Paris stock exchange and is part of the CAC 40 and Euro Stoxx 50 indices.
For more information: www.safran-group.com / Follow @Safran on Twitter
Media contacts
Catherine MALEK catherine.malek@safrangroup.com +33 (0)6 47 88 03 17
Charles SORET charles.soret@safrangroup.com +33 (0)6 31 60 96 79
Attachment
View source version on GlobeNewswire: http://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/02/12/1984219/0/en/Demonstrator-phase-launched-Future-Combat-Air-System-takes-major-step-forward.html
June 30, 2022 | International, Naval
'Information is key to gaining advantage in all domains, whether during kinetic actions on the battlefield or during day-to-day operations in competition,' said Gen. David Berger, the Marine Corps commandant.
October 21, 2019 | International, Aerospace
La ministre de la Défense a indiqué dimanche que le commandement militaire de l'Espace, dont la création a été annoncée la veille par le président de la République, sera située à Toulouse. Elle a également précisé les premiers moyens qui seront alloués à cette nouvelle branche militaire. Le commandement militaire de l'espace dont le président Emmanuel Macron vient d'annoncer la création sera implanté à Toulouse, a affirmé dimanche la ministre des Armées Florence Parly sur France Inter. Ce grand commandement "va se localiser à Toulouse, qui est le grand lieu de l'espace francais", a-t-elle détaillé au lendemain de l'annonce du chef de l'Etat. "Nous allons rassembler tous les moyens qui sont dispersés dans nos armées et qui contribuent à la bonne utilisation des moyens spatiaux, et créer un commandement de l'espace", qui "va commencer par environ 200 personnes puis va monter en puissance au fil du temps", a souligné la ministre. Espionnage, brouillage, cyberattaques, armes antisatellites... L'espace, indispensable aux opérations militaires, est devenu un champ de confrontation entre nations, mettant la France au défi de muscler ses capacités dans ce thé'tre hautement stratégique et de plus en plus militarisé. Les plus grandes puissances spatiales mondiales -- Etats-Unis, Chine et Russie -- sont engagées depuis plusieurs années dans une course pour la domination de l'espace. Un budget de 3,6 milliards d'euros La Loi de programmation militaire française (LPM) 2019-2025 prévoit un budget de 3,6 milliards d'euros pour le spatial de défense. Il doit notamment permettre de financer le renouvellement des satellites français d'observation CSO et de communication (Syracuse), de lancer en orbite trois satellites d'écoute électromagnétique (CERES) et de moderniser le radar de surveillance spatiale GRAVES. Ce que nous avons constaté, c'est que l'espace est devenu un espace de conflictualité", a expliqué Mme Parly. "Il y a 1.500 satellites autour de la Terre, il y en aura 7.000 dans dix ans, et ces satellites sont de plus en plus considérés comme des objets qui peuvent être espionnés ou modifiés." "Il ne faut pas être naïf, il faut pouvoir protéger ce qui est vital pour le fonctionnement de nos systèmes de transport, nos systèmes aériens, nos hôpitaux (...) et ce qui est essentiel au bon fonctionnement de nos forces (armées, ndr)", a-t-elle conclu, en promettant de donner plus de détails "dans une dizaine de jours" sur la stratégie française dans le spatial militaire. https://www.latribune.fr/entreprises-finance/industrie/aeronautique-defense/le-commandement-de-l-espace-sera-installe-a-toulouse-823519.html
June 5, 2020 | International, C4ISR, Security
Andrew Eversden A federal watchdog's review of 15 major information technology investments at the Department of Defense found that many programs were below cost estimates, though several had delays in their original timelines, shortfalls in cybersecurity testing and software development workforce challenges. The Government Accountability Office's 18th annual “Defense Acquisitions Annual Report," released June 3, evaluated 15 major business and non-business information technology programs, the first time the GAO evaluated IT programs as part of the review. The IT projects the GAO examined totaled $15.1 billion in spending. The report found that 11 of the 15 systems saw decreases in their in their life-cycle cost estimates. The biggest cost saver was the Army Contract Writing System, which decreased its cost estimate by $229 million. That system will replace several legacy platforms and serve as the Army's enterprise-wide contract management platform. Officials working on the systems with lower price tags said that the drops were due to contract cost revisions, program management efficiencies and lower costs than expected. Two of the remaining four programs that had higher costs experienced increases of over 20 percent, though the report doesn't note which programs. One program, not named in the report, experienced an increase of $315 million, or 151 percent. Officials from the unexpectedly expensive projects cited developmental challenges as a reason for the increases. Two-thirds of the projects experienced schedule delays, ranging from one month for the Marine Corps' Air Command and Control System Increment One, to five years for the Air Force's Defense Enterprise Accounting and Management System-Increment One. Officials for delayed programs told the GAO that slowdowns occurred because of cybersecurity gaps, performance issues and longer-than expected maintenance periods. The GAO also evaluated the use of software development by the systems, finding that 14 of the 15 programs were using various types of iterative software development, such as agile, incremental and waterfall, among others. Among the other findings: - All eight major business IT systems it evaluated were using commercial-off-the-shelf software, consistent with DoD guidance from 2017. COTS software is supposed to reduce cost, development time and increase delivery. - Six of the 15 systems were conducting cybersecurity testing during the developmental stages of the program, which allows the services to fix vulnerabilities early in the software life cycle before the program is used, saving money and reduce delays before systems are fully implemented. - Eleven of the 15 programs conducted operational cybersecurity testing, during which vulnerabilities and their effects are identified in a mission context, the GAO said. While Pentagon leaders push faster delivery times on software, many programs reported workforce challenges associated with rapid development. According to the GAO, nine of the 15 programs said it was “difficult to find staff with the requisite expertise.” Seven struggled to hire staff fast enough to complete development, while six reported not meeting software engineering staff plans to be a challenge. The watchdog evaluated five programs from the Air Force, four Navy projects, two Army investments and four programs from the office of the secretary of defense. The GAO report said that a companion report on other major Pentagon IT systems would be released later this year. https://www.c4isrnet.com/it-networks/2020/06/03/major-pentagon-it-programs-are-reducing-costs-but-development-challenges-remain/