Airbus, Thales sign agreement
Airbus and Thales have signed an agreement for the development of the Air Combat Cloud for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS).
The companies will work jointly on the structural design of the system of systems that will support collaborative air operations at national and multinational levels. Work will begin with a first phase of technology demonstrations of air combat cloud capabilities.
The 18-month agreement supports the Air Combat Cloud pillar of the Demonstrator Phase 1A contract as a starting point for demonstrators and technology development.
Within FCAS, the Air Combat Cloud will in real time connect and synchronise all platforms and enable the processing and distribution of information to enhance situational awareness and collaborative operations.
The two companies will design the Air Combat Cloud, first in the frame of the Franco German FCAS cooperation but with the goal of enlarging the scope of collaborative combat capabilities between national air forces at European level in future.
More from Air Warfare
-
Saab’s GlobalEye gains ground as Canada’s aircraft procurement tilts towards Europe
Canada’s interest in negotiating a procurement of Saab’s GlobalEye airborne early warning and control aircraft signals its readiness to reduce its reliance on US defence technology as trade tensions with its North American neighbour mount.
-
US Air Force CCA programme to achieve multiple milestones in the coming months
The US Air Force is preparing to select mission-autonomy software, fire a missile from the FQ-42 Vengeance and test both CCA designs alongside crewed fighters at 2026 Emerald Flag.
-
Will the US Navy F/A-XX and the USAF F-47 compete for production capacities?
The two sixth-generation fighter programmes could battle for engineering talent and production lines before deliveries begin, testing Boeing’s industrial expansion plans.
-
September drone digest: attrition-tolerant aircraft pitched to replace the Reaper
The loss of many MQ-9 Reapers during the 2026 Iran War has underscored the risks of sending relatively expensive UAVs into contested airspace. In September, new contenders to replace the Reaper emerged, championing cheaper, modular aircraft designs for mass production and inevitable attrition.