The Future Combat Air System (“FSAC”) is, possibly, one of the most ambitious and disruptive bets in which Europe is immersed. Spain, France and Germany are trying to coordinate the best of their industry to give life to a fighter capable of transforming the fundamental concepts of the military doctrine of the future.
It is not just about creating a sixth generation aircraft, but a very long-term project. The objective is to develop a system of systems that generates a core of technologies and weapons that give Europe air superiority. Around this idea, a combat cloud is conceived to act as the brain of the whole, developing a secure command, control, communications and intelligence network based on the most advanced cryptography.
Likewise, the development of a series of unmanned vehicles is planned, the importance of which in future conflicts has been amply demonstrated by the Ukrainian experience. These would operate in swarms, and could be launched from a drone carrier or support platforms.
Lastly is the crown jewel of the project: the new generation fighter. This aircraft aspires to replace the fleets of French “Rafale” and “Eurofighter” of Germany and Spain. Its design would be conceived to act as a command center for unmanned troops and to become a low observability aircraft. Thus, the main concept lies in turning the new fighter into the nucleus of a swarm of drones, coordinated through an ultra-modern combat cloud.
The first flights are planned between 2027 and 2029, but integrating all the systems and ensuring their joint operation could delay the full operation of the program until well into the 2040s. A date so distant that it would have been one of the points of friction between the partners. Spain, which initially participated as an observer, joined the project in 2019 on equal terms, ensuring that 33% of the development was carried out in its territory.
Indra, a key piece
The Spanish company was designated by the Government as the national industrial coordinator of the program. He will be in charge of leading the development of components related to digitalization and system intelligence. In addition, it will be the international leader in the development of sensors and will co-lead, together with its European partners, the combat cloud. Their participation is essential to achieve that “system of systems” that the countries involved pursue.
He will not act alone. Airbus Defense and Space will be in charge of the development of the next-generation fighter, focusing on stealth technologies that will make the device practically invisible to its adversaries. At the same time, ITP Aero will coordinate the development of the engines. The company, based in Zamudio, will organize the work of more than twenty Spanish companies, technology centers and universities to create a sixth generation engine with the most advanced world technology.
Finally, “SATNUS”, a consortium created expressly for the “FSAC”, will be in charge of drones and remote operations. Companies that were originally rivals have joined together with the aim of promoting collaboration and generating synergies that promote the program.
Tensions between partners: a plan in danger that Spain wants to lead
Although the project began as a Franco-German initiative, Spain has acquired a role that could allow it to take the lead. Industrial tensions between the other two countries threaten the continuity of the program, and the eventual departure of France could leave the survival of the “FSAC” in suspense.
Meanwhile, Spain reinforces its commitment. In 2021, it contributed 2.5 billion euros to guarantee research and development until 2027. In October of this year it added another 350 million to strengthen the national capabilities of the technological core and, more recently, it has added an additional 700 million. More than 1,000 million in two months to send a clear message to its partners: Spain’s commitment is total, it is willing to invest what is necessary and its industry is already actively working on the project. The objective seems to be to force a solution to the political blockade.
France, however, demands a much less balanced distribution. Paris demands 80% of the development of the fighter in favor of “Dassault”, a figure that would break the principle of equitable distribution and has caused strong disagreement. Given this, the French company would be considering developing a solo aircraft. While Spain and Germany defend a consortium and collaborative model that strengthens European ties, France is committed to a more dirigiste and centralized strategy.
If France finally abandons the project, the alternatives would be to find a new European partner with the necessary technological capabilities. In this scenario, Italy or Sweden are strongly mentioned, whose aeronautical sectors would represent interesting options.
The delicate situation in Spain
Planning is once again a problem for the Executive. Spain’s commitment to the sixth generation system has been total, and to finance it it has renounced acquiring fifth generation technologies such as the “F-35.” This leaves her in a compromised position.
The program, in its entirety, will not be operational – in the best of cases – until 2040, while the current “F-18 Hornet” and “AV-8B Harrier II” will be retired around 2030. This would mean a gap of between ten and fifteen years in which the Spanish Armed Forces would lack a state-of-the-art combat aircraft, while allies and possible adversaries would have them.
Currently, the only fifth-generation short takeoff and vertical landing aircraft available on the market is the “F-35B”, which implies that Spain could condemn its embarked air wing to disappearance when the “Harriers” are no longer in service. It is worth remembering that this model made its first flight in 1981 and therefore its useful life cannot be extended forever. Spain flatly refused to purchase the “F-35B” a few months ago, so there are very few avenues from this point if the country wants to upgrade. One option, obviously, would be to retract and bet again on North American aircraft. That, or rely on the fourth generation for a few more years than expected. For this reason, Spain’s trust is so great in the sixth generation, it seems to have become a dead end, all or nothing. And, even if this project goes ahead, there will still be a time gap in which the Navy’s embarked capabilities will continue to be called into question.
Thus, while the future of one of Europe’s most ambitious projects hangs in the balance, Spain faces serious difficulties in finding alternatives.