French-English UAS programme moves forward

2nd August 2012 - 08:24 GMT | by The Shephard News Team

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BAE Systems and Dassault Aviation have been awarded a contract by the UK and French governments for a Future Combat Air System Demonstration Programme Preparation Phase (FCAS DPPP), according to a 30 July announcement.

The FCAS DPPP contract will propose a joint plan to mature and demonstrate critical technology and operational aspects of a future combat air system. BAE Systems expects that this will lead to a joint Unmanned Combat Air System demonstration and operational evaluation programme in the future.

BAE Systems said that along with Dassault Aviation, it 'fully supports their governments in their stated desire for closer bi-lateral defence relationships'.

Since 2010, they have started and continue to work closely together to mature and develop further their common understanding of technology, capability and business opportunities in the Unmanned Air System (UAS) arena.

This contract is the first UAS contract to come out of the Defence Accord signed at the Anglo-French Summit in November 2010.

BAE Systems, Dassault Aviation and Rolls Royce/Snecma have also signed an industrial agreement to work together in support of this contract.