Airbus finishes pilot phase of FCAS innovation initiative
Airbus has concluded the pilot phase of an initiative to involve German start-ups, SMEs and research institutes in development of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS).
Innovations for FCAS (I4 FCAS) was launched in April 2020 with funding from the German MoD. During the pilot phase, 18 participants worked on 14 projects covering the gamut of FCAS elements.
In particular, Airbus CyberSecurity worked with Kernkonzept to develop a secure combat cloud demonstrator and Hellsicht developed a demonstrator system applying AI to RF analysis. Hellsicht trained its algorithms on Airbus-provided datasets, allowing for real-time ‘fingerprinting’ of radars and other emitters.
Airbus also worked with Geradts and SFL, with support from German flight laboratory DLR, on creating a system to launch a UAV from an A400M transport aircraft. An agile design and development approach allowed for rapid prototyping and flight readiness in only six months.
Dirk Hoke, CEO of Airbus Defence and Space, said: ‘It is our ambition to continue the initiative in 2021 and beyond, and make it a cornerstone of our FCAS innovation strategy.’
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
DSEI 2025: New AR3 EVO puts Tekever’s modularity ambitions under the spotlight
An evolution of the Tekever AR3, the AR3 EVO that broke cover at DSEI incorporates the thousands of incremental evolutions the company has implemented through its spiral development, geared towards delivering a constant stream of improved aircraft to Ukraine.
-
DSEI 2025: Schiebel reveals two weaponised Camcopter UAVs
The new capabilities are based on platforms already in use or in development, and are designed to perform in demanding defence missions.
-
DSEI 2025: GCAP Electronics Evolution emerges as new consortium for 6th-gen programme
The consortium, known as G2E, is formed of four leading national defence electronics companies: Mitsubishi for Japan, Leonardo UK for the UK and both Leonardo and ELT Group for Italy.
-
DSEI 2025: BAE Systems FalconWorks and Lockheed Martin Skunk Works to collaborate on new UAV range
The uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) will start off in the electronic warfare space, according to the companies, to support existing crewed frontline platforms, with many major details still to be disclosed.
-
DSEI 2025: MGI Engineering launches new deep strike OWE TigerShark
The British-built long-range strike one-way effector (OWE) is the latest offering from the company, which demonstrated its smaller OWE SkyShark in July.