Author: Cao Yaoguo Source: Aviation Briefing
According to Thales website 2020 November 23 Journal of the text, the representative of France, Germany, Spain and France and other "next-generation weapon systems / Future Combat System" (NGWS / FCAS) project member countries The General Administration of Weapons and Equipment (DGA) has signed a "Next Generation Weapon System/Future Air Combat System" (NGWS/FCAS) project cooperation with the German FCMS Group, the French Thales Group and the Spanish Indra Company Framework Agreement. The agreement requires FCMS Group, Indra Corporation and France Thales Group to conduct a one-year sensor concept study for Phase 1A of the NGWS/FCAS project, of which the deadline can be extended by 6 months.
According to the cooperation framework agreement, the industrial alliance formed by the German FCMS Group, the French Thales Group and Spain Indra will not only design the distributed sensor link architecture for the air combat system after 2040, but also explore the overall structure of future sensors And introduced mature sensor technology. In addition, the agreement also requires that the developed distributed sensor link architecture can use the NGWS/FCAS "operational cloud" function to enhance the situational awareness of the entire system and the survivability of the combat platform. The industrial alliance formed by Germany’s FCMS Group, France’s Thales Group and Spain’s Indra expects to cooperate with the "Combat Cloud", next-generation fighter jets, and long-range aircraft carrier R&D teams to optimize the design of integrated sensors in combat systems and even combat platforms.
Thales Group believes that the development of sensors plays a vital role in ensuring the integration of next-generation fighter jets (NGF), unmanned aerial vehicles and remote control personnel (RCs) and "combat clouds". The advantages of the "Next Generation Weapon System/Future Air Combat System" depend largely on the amount and quality of information collected by the sensor network.
