The Ministers of Defense of Spain, France and Germany presented today in Madrid the signature of the contract for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS-NWGS) program, in an event held at the Air and Space Force Headquarters in Madrid.
Prior to the event, the ministers held a trilateral meeting in which they discussed assistance to Ukraine, the situation in Africa and the Sahel, the Indo-Pacific region and the recent evacuation of Sudan.
During the presentation of the program, the Spanish Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, agreed with her counterparts from France, Sébastien Lecornu, and Germany, Boris Pistorius, that this is a strategic European project of enormous value, unity and commitment, not only in terms of military capabilities, but also in the industrial, technological and socio-economic fields.
This event has materialized the common will of the three countries and their industries to move forward together in the project, following the signing last December of the contract for Research, Technology and Demonstration activities of the program.
Remarks by the Ministers of Defense
«This presentation in society of this project highlights that the three countries firmly believe in the defense industry and therefore in the security of citizens,» said Robles. «It is an exciting and essential project for our Air and Space Armies and for our industries, which, working in coordination, will create jobs, talent, new industrial fabric and technology,» added the minister, who thanked the teams from the three countries working on the project.
«The Spanish government has committed a budget of 2.5 billion euros, which highlights the importance we attach to the project. We will continue to push it forward slowly but surely,» said Robles. «This Europe of Defense is essential and fundamental in a world full of risks. Everyone understands that we must invest in defense to guarantee the exercise of our rights,» she stressed.
For his part, the German defense minister stressed the importance of collaboration between European partners and allies, pointing out that «we can do a lot on our own, but most things work out much better if we do them together, and that is the maxim for the coming years. More joint projects, more joint responsibility,» said Pistorius.
The French minister also defined the signature between Germany, Spain and France as «an important step in the preparation of the air combat system of the future».
«This cooperation is above all the expression of a common military need. Our three Armies will be able to rely on interoperability. I welcome Spain’s role in this common adventure and we know that we have a Spanish defense industry of the highest quality,» said Lecornu.
FCAS / NWGS / SCAF Program Composition
After the trilateral meeting, the Secretary of State for Defense, María Amparo Valcarce, welcomed the participants and said that «the developments made possible by this project will not only be at the technological forefront of the defense sector, but will also converge with the rest of the sectors seeking dual solutions that will allow our citizens to benefit from their technological advances».
Valcarce detailed that the FCAS program will contemplate a new generation fighter, as well as a new engine, a drone system, a combat cloud, sensors, low observability technology and a simulation laboratory, in an industrial strategy «permeated by values and commitments to sustainability», which «strengthens the strategic sovereignty of the European Union, the relations of Germany, France and Spain as partners and allies, and contributes to the Europe of Defense».
The program is coordinated by Dassault Aviation in France, Airbus Defense and Space GmbH in Germany, and Indra in Spain. Also participating are: Airbus Defense and Space SAU, EUMET (Safran Aircraft Engines / MTU), ITP Aero, MBDA, SATNUS (GMV / Sener / Tecnobit), Thales and FCMS (Hensoldt, Diehl Defence, ESG Elektroniksystem- und Logistik-GmbH / Rohde & Schwarz).
