The FCAS program made a strong impression this year at the Paris Air Show, by presenting the model of the future combat aircraft belonging to the system, and by introducing to the public the "Remote Carriers", light drones extending the means of detection and action of the aircraft. It seems that the idea has, in fact, been on the drawing boards of British design offices for several years.
Indeed, the Royal Air Force has just entrusted the agency Defense Science and Technology Laboratory the study and design of the prototype of the LANCA program, for Lightweigth Affordable Novel Combat Aircraft, which is nothing other than a Remote Carrier intended to equip the F35 and Typhoon of His Majesty's Air Force.
The prototype, called “Mosquito”, will have to synthesize currently existing technologies, for rapid and inexpensive integration, according to a paradigm which seems to guide the entire Tempest program. As such, a large part of the technologies that will be used will come from technologies developed by the Franco-British FCAS program, renamed FCAS TI for Future Combat Air System Technology Initiative, revealing, once again, the British methodology based on technological bricks.
It is, in this respect, interesting to note that the Royal Air Force maintains its objectives of having a UCAV by 2030, in accordance with the objectives of the FCAS program, where France seems, with Germany, to be satisfied with a 2040 objective with the FCAS.
One thing is certain, whether they are alone or whether they manage to unite around the Tempest project, the British show no sign of restlessness in the management or the negotiations surrounding this program.
