On the contrary, many French specialists want to carry out this project without Germany, but with selected industrial partners (as was the case with the Neuron).
Future Combat Air System (FCAS) - France/Germany
- Thread starter randomradio
- Start date
@Picdelamirand-oil, @Amarante what is the Dassault Neuron project expected to evolve into? Because Neuron itself a full-scale drone and has been successfully flown, yet has not been inducted into the military. Does France have any military drone program that Neuron is supposed to act as a tech demonstrator for?
It is a technological demonstrator, i.e. it does not correspond to any operational demand but only to implement basic technical solutions that can be used to solve problems that subsequent operational demands might generate.
Such requests will undoubtedly be made in the framework of the SCAF programme.
Thanks.
Does the SCAF program go beyond the FCAS fighter jet? If so, what exactly does SCAF involve?
FCAS Program, Specification, development
THE ESSENTIAL The Future Air Combat System (SCAF) programme is essential for the renewal of the combat aviation of France, Germany and Spain by 2040 (when the Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon are due to end their service life). It is also essential for the preservation of Europe's strategic...
It was supposed to evolve into a join project with Britain, that would have been the successor to both the Neuron and the Taranis and resulted in an operational stealth drone for air-to-ground operations. However, Britain canceled this project just before the step where a joint prototype had to be funded.
Since nature abhors a vacuum, Airbus then went on to suggest to France the idea of a next-gen stealth fighter. Unfortunately, due to his delusions that Europe was a meaningful thing, Macron then invited the German government to participate. The FCAS was from then on doomed to be nothing but a waste of time and money.
Pretty long history.
Future Combat Air System (UK) - Wikipedia
So FOA (Anglo-French, 1995) > FOAS (Anglo-French, 1996) > DPOC (Anglo, 2005) > FCAS (Anglo-French, 2012) > Tempest (Anglo-Italian-Swedish)
Do we know why the UK-French FCAS was cancelled? It was complementary to the current FCAS anyway.
My hypothesis is that for the British, the UCAV was a Plan B in case the F-35 didn't pan out. Once they got enough confidence that the JSF would get out of its development hell, the stealth strike drone became redundant and they let it drop.
Was it ever going to end differently? On it's school report card, the teacher says. France doesn't play well with others.
JVs only work when there is either a deficiency of money or technology or both.
Dassault doesn't wanna share.
They all need to combine funds, including the UK. None of them have enough on their own. The F-35 R&D is $70 billion and still spending. The important stuff is under the skin.
Whether it's true or false, it's up to the French govt to figure out how much they can pay. Dassault obviously don't like that 'cause they can do the entire thing on their own. And Dassault doesn't have to spend as much as LM has spent on the F-35, they are more efficient with their money, mainly 'cause there are less cooks to spoil the broth.
Yes of course it's France's fault.
Weird how France could do the Concorde with the Brits or CFM International with the Yankees; but when it comes to working with the Germans, things crash and burn. Like the Eurofighter Typhoon. Ask the Brits if they want to make the Tempest with Germany... But no, it's France's fault.
Story of FCAS in a nutshell:
Germany says "hey France, how about making next-gen jets and tanks together? I'll take the lead on the tank and you take the lead on the fighter, okay?"
Then Germany says "actually, the fighter thing is a big deal. Let's split it into several parts. You keep the lead on the fighter proper, of course, but I'll take the lead on the engine, on the drone wingmen, and on the networking. Also on the tank thing, we're gonna bring in more German companies than originally agreed so we'll reduce your part here, but that's fine, right?"
Then Germany says "actually, we want the lead on some parts of the fighter too, like flight commands. Also, we're gonna buy the F-35 anyway. The idea is that you buy the jet we produce, and we buy the American jet instead."
Then France gets pissed off and it's France's fault. France just doesn't play well with others...
I suppose both France and Germany can work independently on the NGF, while cooperating in all other areas, common engine, avionics, drones and cloud. France needs a carrier version, while the Germans will be more interested in air superiority. Also get two chances to win future export tenders. Pretty much the opposite of FREMM.
A simpler alternative is to just have two independent FBWs on a common airframe. After the Germans take 10 extra years and fail, they can always go back to the French one. If they succeed, good for them.
Drone? Or a new NGF design? Feel like the latter, considering the cockpit bulge.