France is to invest €6.41 billion ($6.75 billion) in the Dassault Rafale fighter program between 2023 and 2026 and has earmarked €5.36 billion after 2026.
A consortium of German companies has been contracted to begin building the IT platform that is expected to produce the AI systems for the European FCAS.
Dassault Aviation CEO Eric Trappier told the Paris Air Show that Europe should not rely on cloud solutions from beyond the continent for sensitive information.
While not becoming an FCAS partner in the contracted industrial phases, Belgium will guide its industry to pursue work that could support future program phases.
Despite increased defense spending, parliamentary hearings are hinting at potentially adverse consequences for some of France’s key defense aerospace programs.
Airbus has begun work on a next-generation aircraft to enter service in 2035, opting for a novel architecture that may enable use of open-rotor engines.
Spanish companies are playing leading roles in developing the sixth-gen Future Combat Air System sensor suite, low-observability features and remote carriers.