Building a Global Combat Air Systems (GCAS), Path to the FCAS
The second speaker entitled his presentation “Building a Global Combat Air Systems (GCAS), Path to the FCAS.”
In his presentation, this speaker provided an overview of the objectives, but spent most of his time focused on the key tasks necessary to get to the FCAS end point.
A number of air operational requirements were identified in the presentation as the launch point for the FCAS discussion.
The first phase was from 2020-2030 where the focus was upon Rafale and Mirage modernization.
The fleet would be stabilized at 225 fighter aircraft for the FAF and the Navy.
Rafale upgrades would be provided to enhance connectivity, survivability, and new sensors and weapons.
The second phase from 2030-2040 would see the retirement of the Mirages and the FAF would have a Rafale fleet only.
In this period, modernization would continued with regard to new sensors, weapons and networking capabilities.
The Rafale would evolve (F-5.MLU) to continue its nuclear delivery role as well.
The third phase would be from 2040-2050 with the fielding of a new generation system.
FCAS/NGF initial deliveries would be made to start the Rafale replacement process.
Rafales would continue in service until 2060-ish.
The rest of the presentation focused on the air connectivity challenges and the need to deal with legacy approaches and to expand the envelope of working digital integration.
And at the heart of the FCAS is clearly what Generals Hostage and Deptula identified several years ago as the combat cloud. Information superiority is to be enabled through the combat cloud.
This means that much focus of research, development and combat improvement in the FAF over the next decade and beyond must be in this area, and the challenge identified in the first briefing or in the EAG’s work becomes a key one – working F-35 integration with the legacy fleet.
And such efforts, by definition become part of the FCAS as well.
The second speaker highlighted how he saw the GCAS network evolving and laying the foundation for FCAS: “Given the complexity and program cycles, we need to have an incremental approach.”
And here he provided what he identified as a connectivity roadmap.
From 2018 through 2025, he envisaged the creation of the network which is connected but limited in its full impact.
From 2025-through 2030 he saw a catch up imperative where a digitally ready FCAS system was being shaped.
From 2030 through 2040, a system architecture by design would be crafted and put in place as the laydown for the new fighter in the 2040s.
Put in other words, modernization of the legacy air combat fleet and the shaping of an evolving incremental network would be subsumed in a new architecture and a new fighter by the 2040s.
He concluded his presentation by identifying what he saw as the risks and opportunities of the FCAS approach with GCAS as the development and implementation path.
The key risks identified were as follows: an interoperability gap (4thand 5thgen); not being able to define international norms; lose a strong and capable aeronautical European industry; and to lose time.
The opportunities were identified as follows: operational gains; share/promote the connectivity concept at the joint force, industrial and allied levels and to develop cooperation.
In other words, for the FAF, it is about evolving the current fleet and modernizing the Rafale to remain a centerpiece of FAF airpower, but to do so in a way that provides building blocks to the FCAS and the Rafale replacement fighter.
And to do so, in the context of evolving airpower modernization in Europe and beyond by non-FCAS airpower players, including adversaries for that matter.
The featured graphic shows an Naval Group / Dassault Aviation image showing the NGF (next generation fighter) and a UCAS being launched from a conceptual aircraft carrier.
The International Fighter Conference is held by IQPC and next year’s conference will be also held in Berlin from November 12-14 2019 and if this year’s conference is anything to go by, it is highly recommended that persons interested in the evolution of the air combat force attend.
Although the focus is upon fighters, given the evolution combat, the scope is rapidly expanding to a discussion of operations in the integrated battlespace.
The French Air Force and FCAS: Perspectives from the International Fighter Conference 2018 - Second Line of Defense
The second speaker entitled his presentation “Building a Global Combat Air Systems (GCAS), Path to the FCAS.”
In his presentation, this speaker provided an overview of the objectives, but spent most of his time focused on the key tasks necessary to get to the FCAS end point.
A number of air operational requirements were identified in the presentation as the launch point for the FCAS discussion.
- Air superiority in a contested environment;
- Height, speed, reach, payload and responsiveness of the system and the platforms to achieve air superiority;
- More persistence
- More weapons and larger range of effects
- Better survivability (which could be collectively achieved rather than focusing on a particular platform)
- Right mix of autonomous (i.e. onboard) versus collective capabilities
- Connected and able to collect and share data
- Data processing depending on needs and position in the system
- European sovereignty
- National caveats (national clouds and specific capabilities if needed)
- Affordability versus numbers.
The first phase was from 2020-2030 where the focus was upon Rafale and Mirage modernization.
The fleet would be stabilized at 225 fighter aircraft for the FAF and the Navy.
Rafale upgrades would be provided to enhance connectivity, survivability, and new sensors and weapons.
The second phase from 2030-2040 would see the retirement of the Mirages and the FAF would have a Rafale fleet only.
In this period, modernization would continued with regard to new sensors, weapons and networking capabilities.
The Rafale would evolve (F-5.MLU) to continue its nuclear delivery role as well.
The third phase would be from 2040-2050 with the fielding of a new generation system.
FCAS/NGF initial deliveries would be made to start the Rafale replacement process.
Rafales would continue in service until 2060-ish.
The rest of the presentation focused on the air connectivity challenges and the need to deal with legacy approaches and to expand the envelope of working digital integration.
And at the heart of the FCAS is clearly what Generals Hostage and Deptula identified several years ago as the combat cloud. Information superiority is to be enabled through the combat cloud.
This means that much focus of research, development and combat improvement in the FAF over the next decade and beyond must be in this area, and the challenge identified in the first briefing or in the EAG’s work becomes a key one – working F-35 integration with the legacy fleet.
And such efforts, by definition become part of the FCAS as well.
The second speaker highlighted how he saw the GCAS network evolving and laying the foundation for FCAS: “Given the complexity and program cycles, we need to have an incremental approach.”
And here he provided what he identified as a connectivity roadmap.
From 2018 through 2025, he envisaged the creation of the network which is connected but limited in its full impact.
From 2025-through 2030 he saw a catch up imperative where a digitally ready FCAS system was being shaped.
From 2030 through 2040, a system architecture by design would be crafted and put in place as the laydown for the new fighter in the 2040s.
Put in other words, modernization of the legacy air combat fleet and the shaping of an evolving incremental network would be subsumed in a new architecture and a new fighter by the 2040s.
He concluded his presentation by identifying what he saw as the risks and opportunities of the FCAS approach with GCAS as the development and implementation path.
The key risks identified were as follows: an interoperability gap (4thand 5thgen); not being able to define international norms; lose a strong and capable aeronautical European industry; and to lose time.
The opportunities were identified as follows: operational gains; share/promote the connectivity concept at the joint force, industrial and allied levels and to develop cooperation.
In other words, for the FAF, it is about evolving the current fleet and modernizing the Rafale to remain a centerpiece of FAF airpower, but to do so in a way that provides building blocks to the FCAS and the Rafale replacement fighter.
And to do so, in the context of evolving airpower modernization in Europe and beyond by non-FCAS airpower players, including adversaries for that matter.
The featured graphic shows an Naval Group / Dassault Aviation image showing the NGF (next generation fighter) and a UCAS being launched from a conceptual aircraft carrier.
The International Fighter Conference is held by IQPC and next year’s conference will be also held in Berlin from November 12-14 2019 and if this year’s conference is anything to go by, it is highly recommended that persons interested in the evolution of the air combat force attend.
Although the focus is upon fighters, given the evolution combat, the scope is rapidly expanding to a discussion of operations in the integrated battlespace.
The French Air Force and FCAS: Perspectives from the International Fighter Conference 2018 - Second Line of Defense
Cute that you now put your hope on the "Indian Version" of the poor F3R, rather than on the F4, the only fighter that is a paper plane now, while all other competitors, are already in production.
