Spain's UAV Navigation Joins European Future Combat Air System Program.

Spanish company UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía has officially announced its participation in the European Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program, one of Europe's most ambitious defense initiatives. The FCAS program aims to develop a Next-Generation Weapon System (NGWS), integrating both manned combat aircraft and remotely piloted air systems, all connected through an advanced Combat Cloud.
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UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía contributes to FCAS under Pillar 3, focusing on remote operators (Picture source: BAE Systems)

This integration seeks to ensure air superiority in future conflicts by combining human and unmanned assets into a coordinated cloud-based network. The program was initially launched by France, Germany, and Spain to develop a new generation of combat aircraft that will replace current fighters such as the French Rafale and the German and Spanish Eurofighter by 2040. The core of the program is the development of a 6th-generation fighter, known as the New Generation Fighter (NGF), which will be integrated with drones and other remotely operated systems.

FCAS was conceived in 2017 through the efforts of France and Germany, with Spain joining later. The main industrial partners are Dassault Aviation, Airbus Defence and Space, Thales, and Indra. Dassault is in charge of the NGF, while Airbus oversees the development of the Remote Carriers (drones) and the Combat Cloud to enable coordination between these systems. The overarching goal is to maintain Europe's air dominance while meeting the needs of future conflicts.

UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía contributes to FCAS under Pillar 3, focusing on remote operators. The company collaborates with SATNUS Technologies SL, a consortium made up of GMV, Sener Aeroespacial, and Tecnobit-Grupo Oesía. SATNUS is responsible for maturing technologies and reducing risks related to the development of remotely piloted components of the NGWS. Airbus GmbH leads this pillar at the European level, while MBDA oversees French involvement, and SATNUS heads Spanish efforts.

UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía's key contribution is providing its autopilot system for the Manned-Unmanned Teaming & Common Systems Demonstrator (MCSD). This demonstrator, led by SATNUS, is crucial for advancing the Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUT) architecture, allowing for the integration of human and remotely piloted systems. The MCSD is part of the first phase of technology demonstrations within FCAS, testing and validating new technologies.

Despite its ambitious scope, the FCAS program has faced challenges. Tensions between French and German industrial partners have led to significant delays. Dassault and Airbus have disagreed over task allocation, particularly regarding flight controls and stealth technology, pushing back the program's completion date from 2040 to possibly 2050. Additionally, disagreements over industrial workload, funding, and Germany’s reluctance to arm certain drones have caused further complications.

These internal challenges are compounded by political differences among the participating countries. Germany, historically more pacifist and cautious about certain military aspects like nuclear deterrence, differs from France in its vision for the offensive capabilities of the future aircraft. Therefore, FCAS still faces political and industrial hurdles that must be overcome to ensure the success of this crucial European defense project.

UAV Navigation-Grupo Oesía's autopilot system will play a vital role in the technical development, integration, and operation of remotely piloted systems, helping them meet the stringent requirements of the FCAS program. This collaboration showcases the importance of European defense companies working together to develop cutting-edge solutions for future combat scenarios, which may help overcome some of the challenges currently faced by the program.