Airbus, Dassault to Build New European Fighter
Airbus and Dassault Aviation have agreed to join forces for the development and production of Europe’s Future Combat Air System
Dan Arkin
| 26/04/2018
Éric Trappier, CEO of Dassault Aviation (left) and Dirk Hoke, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space (Photo courtesy of Airbus)
Airbus and Dassault Aviation are joining forces to develop and produce Europe’s Future Combat Air System (FCAS), which is slated to complement and eventually replace the current generation of Eurofighter and Rafale fighter aircraft between 2035 and 2040.
The announcement follows a decision in principle last year by the French and German governments to develop a new fighter jet together.
The partnership was sealed at the ILA Berlin Airshow on Wednesday by Dirk Hoke, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, and Eric Trappier, CEO and chairman of Dassault Aviation.
"Never before has Europe been more determined to safeguard and foster its political and industrial autonomy and sovereignty in the defense sector," Hoke said. He emphasized that "schedule is tight" and the companies need to start work immediately on a project roadmap.
Following Wednesday's announcement, there are growing concerns in the UK that British defense giant BAE Systems will be left out of the FCAS project.
BAE Systems is a major shareholder in Eurofighter alongside Airbus and is currently developing an unmanned combat aircraft with Dassault.
According to Hoke, Britain’s role in future projects would likely depend on the conditions around its exit from the European Union. He said that in the near term decisions had to be made "whether to include or exclude the UK in certain projects depending on how Brexit will progress. If it’s a hard Brexit, it will be a very difficult decision."
[Sources: Reuters/Defense News]
Airbus and Dassault Aviation have agreed to join forces for the development and production of Europe’s Future Combat Air System
Éric Trappier, CEO of Dassault Aviation (left) and Dirk Hoke, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space (Photo courtesy of Airbus)
Airbus and Dassault Aviation are joining forces to develop and produce Europe’s Future Combat Air System (FCAS), which is slated to complement and eventually replace the current generation of Eurofighter and Rafale fighter aircraft between 2035 and 2040.
The announcement follows a decision in principle last year by the French and German governments to develop a new fighter jet together.
The partnership was sealed at the ILA Berlin Airshow on Wednesday by Dirk Hoke, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, and Eric Trappier, CEO and chairman of Dassault Aviation.
"Never before has Europe been more determined to safeguard and foster its political and industrial autonomy and sovereignty in the defense sector," Hoke said. He emphasized that "schedule is tight" and the companies need to start work immediately on a project roadmap.
Following Wednesday's announcement, there are growing concerns in the UK that British defense giant BAE Systems will be left out of the FCAS project.
BAE Systems is a major shareholder in Eurofighter alongside Airbus and is currently developing an unmanned combat aircraft with Dassault.
According to Hoke, Britain’s role in future projects would likely depend on the conditions around its exit from the European Union. He said that in the near term decisions had to be made "whether to include or exclude the UK in certain projects depending on how Brexit will progress. If it’s a hard Brexit, it will be a very difficult decision."
[Sources: Reuters/Defense News]
