Leonardo and BAE Systems announce Italy-UK industrial collaboration for the Future Combat Air System program
Leonardo and BAE Systems analyzed the opportunities for industrial collaboration between Italy and the United Kingdom and reached an agreement as part of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program for the demonstrator aircraft, as part of a cooperation process launched between the two countries in the defense sector. This approach will make it possible to identify shared areas where to start joint analyzes on possible activities of common interest. The demonstration activities in the field of sensors and advanced systems that involve the Italian and British business of Leonardo and Elettronica Spa fall into the same context.
The FCAS program envisages the development of a technologically advanced systems system for multi-domain missions, centered on highly disruptive emerging technologies, with a sixth generation aerial platform at the center and intended for the renewal of the Eurofighter aircraft fleet. This is an ambitious and innovative project that aims to ensure the maintenance of national sovereignty in the Combat Air sector and is a candidate as a tool capable of redesigning future operational and industrial capabilities in the aerospace sector.
The collaboration between Leonardo and BAE Systems aims at the application of Model Based System Engineering (MBSE) design methodologies and at the joint development of enabling technologies for the national sovereignty of the future system. These activities are the natural evolution of the innovation processes already started by companies and take on strategic importance as they explore a technological frontier not yet reached by European industry.
This context also includes the collaboration in the field of sensors and communications, which involves the Italian and British electronics businesses of Leonardo and Elettronica Spa, in support of the technological development of the FCAS project also through demonstration activities relating to the future on-board electronics. . This initiative will make it possible to strengthen the consolidated collaboration of these companies at an international level, jointly defining the potential architecture of a system of sensors and communication equipment with innovative capabilities and highly integrated features.