NGWS/FCAS sensor design effort receives green light
Indra, Thales and German industry consortium FCMS (comprising Diehl, ESG, Hensoldt and Rohde & Schwarz) will develop a suite of connected and distributed sensors for the New Generation Weapon System/Future Combat Air System (NGWS/FCAS) programme.
French procurement agency DGA signed a contract (worth an undisclosed amount) with project leader Indra Sistemas to incorporate these sensors into Phase 1A of the Sensor Concept Study for NGWS/FCAS.
The contract will last for 12 months with an optional six-month extension.
The team will work on the design of concepts related to a connected and distributed sensor architecture, the design of the future sensor architecture and the maturation of the associated sensor technologies that will allow FCAS to ‘overcome the challenges it will encounter from 2040’, Indra noted in a 23 November statement.
‘The harmony and close collaboration between the three industrial partners has accelerated the definition of the project objectives and the signing of the contract,’ the company added.
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
-
Portugal signals interest in establishing A-29N final assembly line
As the launch customer for the NATO-configured variant, Portugal also took delivery of the first five A-29N aircraft from its order for 12, placed in 2024.
-
Leonardo signs contract on Austria’s M-346 aircraft order
The first of the 12 M-346 aircraft are expected to be delivered to the Austrian Air Force by 2028, according to the company.
-
2025 UAV market review: $7.8 billion in new contracts signed as US leads spending
Qatar and Indonesia followed the US’s high spending on new uncrewed aerial vehicle contracts across 2025, while MALE and micro drones and loitering munitions were particularly popular subcategories this year.
-
German Navy in “ramp-up” phase as it welcomes first NH90 Sea Tiger delivery
With all 31 aircraft set to be delivered by 2030, the helicopters will gradually replace the ageing Sea Lynx fleet which are due to be retired in 2026.