Thales and Finmeccanica‘s Selex ES subsidiary will collaborate on the sensor and communications requirements of the Future Combat Air System program that the French and British defense ministries have recently signed an agreement for.
Selex ES said July 15 that the partner companies will design and develop the sensing and communications systems for a future unmanned combat air system.
“The future of combat aircraft in Europe cannot be envisioned without strong cooperation between the key players,” said Pierre-Eric Pommellet, senior vice president of defense mission systems at Thales.
Under the FCAS program, Thales and Selex ESÂ will conduct a two-year feasibility study on the sensor requirements of the future Anglo-French aircraft and perform joint technology maturation activities.
They will also work with France’s Direction Generale de l’Armement and the U.K.’s Defence Science and Technology Laboratory on the “PERFECTA” project to create the digital backbone of future sensor systems.