France Plans Sixth-Gen Fighter Demonstrator Flight by 2031 After FCAS Collapse
Dassault sees route to recovery from progamme collapse, while tensions with Airbus persist on Eurodrone programme. France is preparing to launch a successor programme to the collapsed tri-national Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme with a demonstrator of a sixth-generation fighter potentially flying by 2031. A sprawling development effort by France, Germany and Spain, and their industrial champions, FCAS finally fell apart last month after years of often bitter disagreement between Dassault Aviation and Airbus Defence & Space. Dassault was to lead the development of what was termed the crewed New Generation Fighter (NGF), a long-term replacement for the airframer's Rafale jet and the Eurofighter. However, continued arguments over workshare and the project's structure meant that no agreement could be reached to take the NGF to the next phase, which would have seen the partners build and fly a demonstrator aircraft. But France already appears to be moving on. In its first-half results presentation, Dassault says that "discussions are under way with the French state to launch an alternative, either on a purely French basis or in co-operation, of a demonstrator for a future combat aircraft". Dassault chief executive Eric Trappier says the aim is to have "a demonstrator, based on French requirements, that might fly in 2031 or 2032". Few details on the effort have been disclosed or the other parties being courted, but Trappier says "it is happy to work with countries wishing to work with us". However, he maintains that a 50-50 workshare split "would be better to my mind". Dassault had frequently cited the uneven division of workshare on the NGF as problematic: despite being project leader, it had a one-third share, while Airbus – representing both Germany and Spain – had the remainder. "It's a shame because if we had a 50-50 participation, to my mind it works. "It was a problem for me… but it was also a problem for [Airbus] because they said they didn't want to work with Dassault. So it made more sense to put an end to it." And while he insists the "matter of NGF Dassault-Airbus is behind us", the fractured relationship between the two companies appears to be causing problems elsewhere, notably on the multinational Eurodrone development. Dassault says programme lead Airbus has taken a "unilateral decision" to "terminate Dassault Aviation's participation in the Eurodrone contract". The copmpany is "challenging" the move and says it "intends to defend its rights, particularly as France is continuing the development". "That litigation has just got under way," says Trappier. Additionally, France has requested a delay to the delivery of 20 Rafales, pushing them from 2031-2032 to 2033-2034 in order to free up funds for the development of the F5 standard of multirole type, due to enter service from 2033. Updates being considered for the F5 include more powerful engines, weapons and systems and an accompanying uncrewed combat air vehicle. Dassault shipped two Rafales in the first half, both to France, which still has 43 examples on order; export customers account for a further 165 aircraft in the backlog. Negotiations with India are under way to finalise a contract for 114 Rafales which Trappier hopes will conclude by year-end.