Anglo-French UCAV (FCAS)

UK are unveiling a full size mock up of its next gen fighter next monday that will eventualy compete with the Franco-German initiative. They are also looking for partners. The project is called “Tempest”

We will find out on Monday what the UK intends to do with Future fighters, UCAVs and everything Combat Air….

Since Halloweene isn’t really accurate, this is the moment he is talking about:
https://youtu.be/G3UtJ6u0QL0?t=192

Two seater.

About maned fighter, some CGI at the end of this picture https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3UtJ6u0QL0 from dassault.

Its the first glimpse in a decade and a half of what Dassault “thinks” of what a “future” manned combat jet should look like.
Similar to several designs from Boeing and Northrop.

Aaah, good for them! It actually looks like some thought has gone into that and you can see why Dassault have been given the lead over that dated Airbus concept/offering.

About maned fighter, some CGI at the end of this picture https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G3UtJ6u0QL0 from dassault.

I put this very long article here because it deals with the Anglo-French UAV amongst other issues relating to the UK FCAS effort:

https://www.aerosociety.com/news/uk-mulls-sixth-generation-fighter-project/

Essentially, the UK now has at least 2 acknowledged programmes/teams dealing with Future aircraft, whether that is manned or unmanned- separate from the cross-channel effort.

I personally think that the UK will join with another country or countries on the future manned fighter requirement (Typhoon replacement) but produce a marketable UCAV domestically that will work alongside Typhoon and F35 (big export potential).

😀

Yes, if this is representative of the BAE FCAS, then it would be logical that they could draw on previous work to get things done.

I just noticed the forward fuselage matches very closely that of the FOAS model (which is the only one that went as far as being produced for executive desks) and when you see the two BAE designs together, it is easier to see the difference between them and the French FCAS design.

Blade Runner would be a cool name for the final product though.

I remember the FOAS being designed to somewhat sneak at low alt behind enemy lines. Hence the difference appears to be logical (inlets on the underside, twin engined and manned) : more an evolution behind what can appears a change in mission pattern than some kind of copies or replicants, Rick.

😉

Hmm, still on my hypothetical one man comparison between BAE designs and Dassault designs, look at this FOAS model and compare it to the BAE model I discovered:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]257076[/ATTACH] [ATTACH=CONFIG]257077[/ATTACH]

Replace the cockpit with the Taranis style intake and there you go. Same leading edge sweep and wing join relative to fuselage.

Perhaps the French design has a broader fuselage more akin to the X47b because of carrier compatibility?

Well it’s just a model, but a new one to BAE model aficionados and the fuselage joins the wing inboard of the French wing/fuselage join regardless of which angle you view it from.

There is often lots of chatter about aerodynamics on fighter posts, but less so here. When the first BAE design came out years ago at the signing of the agreement, we concluded there wasn’t anything to read into. Now we are close to a tangible design and this one matches the reports we have from both sides, hypothetically what might the difference tell us about the performance requirements?

Looks so, slghtly but i wouldn’t bet my head on that.

I do think the BAE model is longer in the nose, and the intake makes the fuselage a different shape, but as I said I’m happy for be corrected.

Well, it is suggested that the French are thinking of carrier compatibility and we know BAE looked at that configuration for FOAS, long before any of the X47b flew.

X-47 didn’t continue because it was a one trick pony.

I wonder why the US didn’t continue development of X47?

It’s almost like there was an agreement to hold off and give the European a chance in ucavs.

Looks like cranked kite is going to be another common flying wing UCAV/UAV configuration.

I wonder how many articles will point out how it looks “suspiciously similar” to X-47B… :/

Here is another image:

[ATTACH=CONFIG]256915[/ATTACH]

Similar but not the same. This could be the shared platform but with differing intake being the most obvious national change.

Any other differences?

It could be the shapeperspective but the BAE platform looks longer and sharper?

[ATTACH=CONFIG]256916[/ATTACH]