Old World builds new fighters. 1 part
"Promising aviation combat system ”(Future Combat Air System - FCAS) is now for Germany and France the most modern vision of its own fighter. The German Air Force is currently armed with obsolete Tornado fighter-bombers, which are constantly short of spare parts. The Germans would be happy to get rid of them, but only Tornado are capable of carrying B61 nuclear bombs, which are deployed in the country at the kind request of the United States. And the decommissioning of aircraft is just around the corner - in 2025 all Tornado should retire. The option of replacing with Eurofighter Typhoon can only partially save the situation - certification for equipping nuclear bombs will take several years. Therefore, the most logical step on the part of the Luftwaffe is the purchase of fifth-generation F-35 cars from overseas friends. Several generals from the Air Force advocate for this, but the Ministry of Defense and the government are not enthusiastic about such an initiative. As a result, in May 2018, Lieutenant General Karl Müller lost the post of commander of the country's air force for his public statements in favor of the F-35.
Luftwaffe Commander Lt. Gen. Karl Mülner, fired for lobbying for F-35
The concept of the Future Combat Air System was first published in the Combat Aviation Development Strategy, published by the German Ministry of Defense in May 2016. One of the components of FCAS was the “Next Generation Weapon System or NextGen WS”, as well as variants of manned and unmanned systems. It is worth a little distraction and tell how the FCAS program began. The abbreviation itself appeared in 2001 in the working papers of the European Technology Development Program ETAP (European Technology Acquisition Program). The six participating countries - France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom agreed to exchange technologies and create joint prototypes. Later, under the flag of FCAS in Europe, several national aviation programs were launched at different times. In 2009, this abbreviation was the name of the project to replace Rafale after 2030. And in 2012, the English-French program from BAE Systems and Dassault Aviation for the development of an airline complex based on technology demonstrators Taranis and nEUROn appeared under the code FCAS. Plans for the UK to leave the European Union put a cross on the project with a full freeze of funding.
The conceptual appearance of the fighter FCAS
Let's go back to the original FCAS. Airbus is working on the concept of the new fighter. His management prefers the manned version of the NextGen WS. The main argument against drones is the impossibility of achieving satisfactory autonomy parameters by 2030-2040. As a result, the main layout concept of the program is a two-seat aircraft, the crew of which is represented by a pilot and an operator. drone. Airbus conceived within the framework of FCAS the concept of using a strike complex in the form of a "swarm" (swarm), which includes both manned vehicles and UAVs. In accordance with this idea, the main load will be borne by inexpensive and simple unmanned "mules" equipped with sensors and weapons, as well as connected by secure information channels. The engineers chose an intermediate strike group control scheme, not yet unmanned (the operator is nearby in a fighter), but not manned either (attacks are mainly delivered by UAVs). On July 13, 2017, the leaders of the two countries, Germany and France, agreed on plans to jointly develop a new European fighter on the fields of the Franco-German Council in Paris. And on November 8, 2017, Airbus DS Strategy Director Antoine Noguier presented the updated Future Air Power fighter concept. It is interesting that this time the new car is designed not as a replacement for the Tornado, but as a successor to the Typhoon, that is, it should appear in 2045. At the presentation, the new aircraft was trivially called the "new fighter" (New Fighter) and left in a two-seat configuration. The whole set of a gentleman of generations 5-6 is present here in abundance - both stealth, and supersonic as a cruising mode, and the presence of sensor drones going ahead.
New Fighter Vision from Airbus DS
The HASP (High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite) pseudospat of Zephir type is one of the members of the New Fighter team.
A400M resets the Remote Carriers group of drones to aid New Fighter to suppress the air defense system.
Astrobus is one of the components that ensures the shock group’s awareness of the combat situation.
The highlights of the New Fighter platform should be a new system for conducting reconnaissance, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR - Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance), as well as communication equipment with "pseudo-satellites" HASP (High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite) of the Zephir type. HASP is designed to provide the fighter with information from its airborne radars, scanning the battlefield from high altitudes. The most interesting thing is that a transport A400M was also added to this company, which will carry reconnaissance and strike UAVs (Remote Carriers - remotely controlled carriers) in its womb. This technique will be involved in the event of a collision of fighters with a serious enemy air defense system. Suppress her Drones will be according to the mentioned "swarm" scheme, along with the New Fighter fighter, which will conduct the overall coordination of the action. Part of the drones from the "swarm" will be engaged in electronic warfare, part will directly hit air defense objects, clearing the way for manned equipment. People from Airbus have not forgotten about the AWACS aircraft based on their own A330, which in this topic plays the role of a signal repeater from satellites on the Astrobus platform.
Future Air Power concept with Airbus New Fighter fighter
Network interaction of the structure revolving around New Fighter
The following informational occasion to recall the future of the European fighter was an interview with the head of Airbus DS to the French newspaper Les Echos, in which he mentioned that “a joint Franco-German project provides a unique opportunity to promote rapprochement of European countries. France and Germany should be leaders in such a union, inviting other European states to join them, who wish it. ” Dirk Hoke rightly noted that the content of three Rafale, Typhoon and Tornado fighters at once is too expensive for Europe and every effort should be made to develop a unified platform of the future. Moreover, Hawke added: “Given the old models, in the EU countries, there are currently more than 20 types of fighters - this is a completely abnormal situation.” Let us rephrase the words of the head of Airbus: Europeans need a single plane of the fifth or sixth generation, and it is very desirable that it be an Airbus. In an interview that dates back to 27 November 2017, Hoke recalled that the road map for the new fighter should have been ready by June 2018. According to Les Echos, the deadlines could not be met, as the leadership of the Federal Republic of Germany was distracted from the topic of a promising fighter, focusing on the problems of forming the government of the country. The start of 2018 of the year also did not go without discussing the idea of New Fighter, only this time the interview was given by the head of Dassault Aviation Eric Trappier. In his speech for the German weekly Wirtschaftswoche, he smashed the idea of buying F-35 by Europe: “I don’t think that European countries will be able to contribute to the strategic autonomy of Europe by purchasing a finished American product.” It would be strange to hear something else from the head of a large European engineering company. Trappier also indicated that only Dassault Aviation is capable of making an effective sixth generation fighter for Europe, as it has exceptional competencies in this area. At the same time, at the official level, Airbus DS is the leading developer of the machine, and the French are content with the role of the slave.
Conclusion of an agreement between Airbus DS and Dassault Aviation on the joint development of a new generation fighter
Despite the controversy, in April 2018, the heads of Airbus DS and Dassault Aviation officially announced an agreement to develop a new generation of machines. Dirk Hoke said pathetically about this: “Never before has Europe been so determined to ensure and strengthen its autonomy and independence in the defense sector, both from a political and an industrial point of view. Airbus DS and Dassault Aviation are two companies with the best knowledge that will be required to implement the FCAS project. ” The Airbus DS boss summed up the words that the European novelty will not copy the F-35, but will step further.
To be continued ...
According to the materials of the publication "Rise".
Luftwaffe Commander Lt. Gen. Karl Mülner, fired for lobbying for F-35
The concept of the Future Combat Air System was first published in the Combat Aviation Development Strategy, published by the German Ministry of Defense in May 2016. One of the components of FCAS was the “Next Generation Weapon System or NextGen WS”, as well as variants of manned and unmanned systems. It is worth a little distraction and tell how the FCAS program began. The abbreviation itself appeared in 2001 in the working papers of the European Technology Development Program ETAP (European Technology Acquisition Program). The six participating countries - France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom agreed to exchange technologies and create joint prototypes. Later, under the flag of FCAS in Europe, several national aviation programs were launched at different times. In 2009, this abbreviation was the name of the project to replace Rafale after 2030. And in 2012, the English-French program from BAE Systems and Dassault Aviation for the development of an airline complex based on technology demonstrators Taranis and nEUROn appeared under the code FCAS. Plans for the UK to leave the European Union put a cross on the project with a full freeze of funding.
The conceptual appearance of the fighter FCAS
Let's go back to the original FCAS. Airbus is working on the concept of the new fighter. His management prefers the manned version of the NextGen WS. The main argument against drones is the impossibility of achieving satisfactory autonomy parameters by 2030-2040. As a result, the main layout concept of the program is a two-seat aircraft, the crew of which is represented by a pilot and an operator. drone. Airbus conceived within the framework of FCAS the concept of using a strike complex in the form of a "swarm" (swarm), which includes both manned vehicles and UAVs. In accordance with this idea, the main load will be borne by inexpensive and simple unmanned "mules" equipped with sensors and weapons, as well as connected by secure information channels. The engineers chose an intermediate strike group control scheme, not yet unmanned (the operator is nearby in a fighter), but not manned either (attacks are mainly delivered by UAVs). On July 13, 2017, the leaders of the two countries, Germany and France, agreed on plans to jointly develop a new European fighter on the fields of the Franco-German Council in Paris. And on November 8, 2017, Airbus DS Strategy Director Antoine Noguier presented the updated Future Air Power fighter concept. It is interesting that this time the new car is designed not as a replacement for the Tornado, but as a successor to the Typhoon, that is, it should appear in 2045. At the presentation, the new aircraft was trivially called the "new fighter" (New Fighter) and left in a two-seat configuration. The whole set of a gentleman of generations 5-6 is present here in abundance - both stealth, and supersonic as a cruising mode, and the presence of sensor drones going ahead.
New Fighter Vision from Airbus DS
The HASP (High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite) pseudospat of Zephir type is one of the members of the New Fighter team.
A400M resets the Remote Carriers group of drones to aid New Fighter to suppress the air defense system.
Astrobus is one of the components that ensures the shock group’s awareness of the combat situation.
The highlights of the New Fighter platform should be a new system for conducting reconnaissance, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR - Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance), as well as communication equipment with "pseudo-satellites" HASP (High-Altitude Pseudo-Satellite) of the Zephir type. HASP is designed to provide the fighter with information from its airborne radars, scanning the battlefield from high altitudes. The most interesting thing is that a transport A400M was also added to this company, which will carry reconnaissance and strike UAVs (Remote Carriers - remotely controlled carriers) in its womb. This technique will be involved in the event of a collision of fighters with a serious enemy air defense system. Suppress her Drones will be according to the mentioned "swarm" scheme, along with the New Fighter fighter, which will conduct the overall coordination of the action. Part of the drones from the "swarm" will be engaged in electronic warfare, part will directly hit air defense objects, clearing the way for manned equipment. People from Airbus have not forgotten about the AWACS aircraft based on their own A330, which in this topic plays the role of a signal repeater from satellites on the Astrobus platform.
Future Air Power concept with Airbus New Fighter fighter
Network interaction of the structure revolving around New Fighter
The following informational occasion to recall the future of the European fighter was an interview with the head of Airbus DS to the French newspaper Les Echos, in which he mentioned that “a joint Franco-German project provides a unique opportunity to promote rapprochement of European countries. France and Germany should be leaders in such a union, inviting other European states to join them, who wish it. ” Dirk Hoke rightly noted that the content of three Rafale, Typhoon and Tornado fighters at once is too expensive for Europe and every effort should be made to develop a unified platform of the future. Moreover, Hawke added: “Given the old models, in the EU countries, there are currently more than 20 types of fighters - this is a completely abnormal situation.” Let us rephrase the words of the head of Airbus: Europeans need a single plane of the fifth or sixth generation, and it is very desirable that it be an Airbus. In an interview that dates back to 27 November 2017, Hoke recalled that the road map for the new fighter should have been ready by June 2018. According to Les Echos, the deadlines could not be met, as the leadership of the Federal Republic of Germany was distracted from the topic of a promising fighter, focusing on the problems of forming the government of the country. The start of 2018 of the year also did not go without discussing the idea of New Fighter, only this time the interview was given by the head of Dassault Aviation Eric Trappier. In his speech for the German weekly Wirtschaftswoche, he smashed the idea of buying F-35 by Europe: “I don’t think that European countries will be able to contribute to the strategic autonomy of Europe by purchasing a finished American product.” It would be strange to hear something else from the head of a large European engineering company. Trappier also indicated that only Dassault Aviation is capable of making an effective sixth generation fighter for Europe, as it has exceptional competencies in this area. At the same time, at the official level, Airbus DS is the leading developer of the machine, and the French are content with the role of the slave.
Conclusion of an agreement between Airbus DS and Dassault Aviation on the joint development of a new generation fighter
Despite the controversy, in April 2018, the heads of Airbus DS and Dassault Aviation officially announced an agreement to develop a new generation of machines. Dirk Hoke said pathetically about this: “Never before has Europe been so determined to ensure and strengthen its autonomy and independence in the defense sector, both from a political and an industrial point of view. Airbus DS and Dassault Aviation are two companies with the best knowledge that will be required to implement the FCAS project. ” The Airbus DS boss summed up the words that the European novelty will not copy the F-35, but will step further.
To be continued ...
According to the materials of the publication "Rise".
Information