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
-
![France air focus: Lower-cost sovereign capabilities propel $11.38 billion UAV market]()
France air focus: Lower-cost sovereign capabilities propel $11.38 billion UAV market
France is estimated to be Europe’s second-highest spender on UAVs, with a market focused on domestic production, loitering munitions and lower-cost sovereign systems. Its spending profile highlights substantial future market opportunities while reflecting broader industry trends.
-
![North American appetite for European AEW&C aircraft bolstered as Canada picks GlobalEye]()
North American appetite for European AEW&C aircraft bolstered as Canada picks GlobalEye
Canada’s selection of Saab’s GlobalEye to fulfil its airborne early warning requirements draws the country closer to European industry over American-made platforms, snubbing Boeing and L3Harris.
-
![Hezbollah’s fibre-optic drones expose Israel’s counter-UAV gap in southern Lebanon]()
Hezbollah’s fibre-optic drones expose Israel’s counter-UAV gap in southern Lebanon
Israel is working to close a counter-drone capability gap exposed by Hezbollah's fibre-optic systems, drawing on battlefield lessons from Ukraine to replace improvised defences with targeted solutions.
-
![US Air Force to fast-track capability development for GPS-denied operations]()
US Air Force to fast-track capability development for GPS-denied operations
Over the next 18 months, the air force's research facility intends to accelerate the progress of resilient, autonomous solutions to support aircraft and helicopter deployments in DDIL overland and over-the-water scenarios.
-
![NATO countries test Canadian-made, high-speed “cannibal” drone]()
NATO countries test Canadian-made, high-speed “cannibal” drone
INKAS Anuri CUAS drone has been built to engage consumer, commercial and modified first-person view enemy drones flying at speeds of up to 400 km/h.
