aviation - the past, present and future of flight

Airbus and Dassault in New Joint Venture

Dassault Aviation and Airbus have joined forces to develop and

ultimately produce Europe’s future combat air system (FCAS),

which is intended to complement and eventually replace the current

generation of Eurofighter and Rafale fighters between 2035 and 2040.

The partnership represents a landmark industrial agreement

to secure European sovereignty and technological leadership in

military aviation for the coming decades. The deal was sealed at

the ILA Berlin Air Show on April 25 by Éric Trappier, chairman and

chief executive officer of Dassault Aviation and Dirk Hoke, Airbus

Defence and Space CEO.

Éric Trappier said: “We are convinced that by deploying our

joint expertise, Dassault and Airbus can best meet the operational

requirements in the development of this critically important

European programme. Both companies fully intend to work

together in the most pragmatic and efficient manner. Our joint

roadmap will include proposals to develop demonstrators for the

FCAS programme as of 2025.

“I am convinced that European sovereignty and strategic

autonomy can and will only be ensured through independent

European solutions. The vision that France and Germany have set

forth with FCAS is a bold one and it’s an important signal in, and

for, Europe. The FCAS programme will strengthen the political and

military ties between Europe’s core nations and it will reinvigorate its

aerospace industry.”

Dirk Hoke said: “Never before has Europe been more

determined to safeguard and foster its political and industrial

autonomy and sovereignty in the defence sector. Airbus and

Dassault have absolutely the right expertise to lead the FCAS

project. Both are already co-operating successfully on Europe’s

medium-altitude long-endurance new-generation drone programme.

“FCAS takes this successful co-operation to the next level and

we are absolutely committed to tackling this challenging mission

together with Dassault. The schedule is tight, so we need to start

working together immediately by defining a joint roadmap on how

best to meet the requirements and timelines to be set by the two

nations. It is therefore of key importance that France and Germany

launch an initial joint study this year to address this task.”

Overall, FCAS defines a system combining a wide range of

elements connected and operating together, including the next

generation of fighters, together with medium-altitude long-endurance

unmanned aerial vehicles, the existing fleet of aircraft (which will still

operate beyond 2040), future cruise missiles and drones.

More Moroccan F-16s?

Reports from North Africa suggest the Royal

Moroccan Air Force is closer to acquiring

another dozen F-16 Fighting Falcons to

supplement its current fleet of 15 F-16C and

eight F-16D Block 52 jets. The Inspector

General of the Royal Armed Forces, General

Abdel Fattah Warraq, is believed to have

discussed the planned acquisition when he

headed a high-ranking military delegation

visit to the US in April.

Morocco is seeking the latest F-16V

version, dubbed the F-16 Block 70/72,

but it is not known how far negotiations

have progressed. Although Lockheed

Martin can upgrade existing aircraft to

the 70/72 standard, it is reported that the

nation is seeking new-build examples.

Dave Allport

A USAF helicopter unit based at

Lakenheath in Suffolk was reassigned to

the 31st Fighter Wing on May 15 moving

to Aviano Air Base, Italy. The 56th Rescue

Squadrons (RQS) was part of the 48th

Fighter Wing and flies Sikorsky HH-60G

Pave Hawks. The 56th had been stationed

at Lakenheath since it relocated from

Keflavík, Iceland, in June 2006. The

associated 57th RQS has also transferred

to the Italian base.

Two HH-60G Pave Hawks preparing to land

during a farewell event for the 56th Rescue

Sqn at Lakenheath on May 15. USAF/SSgt

Alex Fox Echols

Lakenheath HH-60Gs Transfer

Twelve Dassault Rafale M fighters and a

single Grumman E-2C Hawkeye from the

French Navy’s Carrier Air Group took part

in a major training operation with the US

Navy between April 5 and May 21. The

first part of ‘Chesapeake 2018’ was held at

NAS Oceana, Virginia, and the latter part on

board the US carrier, the USS George H W

Bush (CVN 77).

Over the course of the seven weeks,

the French flew almost 500 sorties and 22

Rafale pilots worked to receive their carrier

qualification, five of which were transitioning

from the now retired Dassault Super

Étendard. The training was conducted

aboard the US carrier so that the French

crews could maintain their naval aviation

proficiency while their own carrier, the

Charles De Gaulle is being overhauled.

http://www.aviation-news.co.uk 11

French Fighters Train on US Carrier

A French Navy Rafale M operating from the George H W Bush in May. US Navy

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