Key Component of FCAS Programme Begins to Take Shape

The Future Combat Mission Systems consortium, comprising Hensoldt, Diehl Defence, ESG Elektroniksystem- und Logistik-GmbH and Rohde & Schwarz and bringing a pan-German approach to contributing to the European Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme, is well ion the way to development of the future platform’s major sensors, the organisation announced on 2 November.

The 4π Meta-Sensor Effector System, in which 4π describes the entire volume of space around the platform, as well as the effectors, will form a key component of the FCAS sensors development ‘pillar,’ for which FCMS has been appointed the German lead and joint coordinator for various technology clusters within the technology development initiative for the Next Generation Weapon System (NGWS) part of FCAS.

FCMS brings together the capabilities and innovative strengths of over 22,000 employees in the security and defence industry, some 16,000 of whom are located in Germany. The consortium, which has been approved by the antitrust authorities, is aiming at targeted cooperation and development of further partnerships, in order to be able to successfully integrate the detailed know-how of universities and research institutions, as well as the agility of highly specialised German suppliers into an important pan-European programme.