Good point. The obvious alternative would be to create a proper Joint Venture for FCAS, similar to GCAP Edgewing, Eurofighter GmbH or Panavia. The JV becomes the prime contractor, removing many of the leadership battles between individual partners (Airbus or Dassault). Cons are: this dilutes accountability, often puts less qualified people in roles purely to maintain national ratios etc.It's surprising that there isn't more discussion of alternative Industrial models rather than just repeating the "Rafale programme good, Eurofighter programme bad" line. There are plenty of alternatives that could be better for the programme. There seems to be little discussion of the pros and cons of different models, bringing in the precious experience of the different companies, to then work out what is the best approach for this particular programme.
a 15tons empty weight jet is not a small aircraft.Would a smaller aircraft be able to have enough electrical power and cooling?
From what i know electrical power generation is one of the primary aspects of 6th gen fighters in development.
I would argue if its within the possible and it makes sense for all user then it shouldn't be an option disregarded. That said i rather have a 15t fighter than a 0t...The 15 tons was agreed by ze germans initially. Mu opinion is that it is a move to push the french to move themselves from the project.
It's the less suitable aircraft that's the one I find utterly strange. Surely the form of the aircraft (in terms of capabilities) should be set at customer level, not vendor?he believes that the Eurofighter model led to poor outcomes (high cost, delays, a less suitable aircraft…) due to the violation of several basic good governance principles (eg. clear leader, best athlete, no veto rights etc).
LOL. It is probably the best man in the whole Europe for that.I don't think Trappier is cut out for a program of the magnitude and complexity of FCAS if that's already where he falters. I think it would be in the interest of France, the FCAS and the other partners if he gets replaced by someone more competent and cooperative soon. Which may be a step towards getting this joint program out of the quagmire it's currently in.
A despot that studied and produce the best european product of its time, with less budget, less unit price, less cost/hour. OK.Ouch, sounds like a mad despot.
The problem with this argument is it assumes the Spanish government is incapable of expressing an opinion and having Airbus ES execute it, which I don't believe is the case. I've worked within a cross-border subsidiary situation, and there were occasions we had to deliberately subvert the instructions from HQ because they failed to recognise local issues, and even laws, pre-empted them. As a case in point: "Find a way to reword this new diktat from the Americans that doesn't make our CEO personally legally liable for any quality issue."Most of all there's a very odd situation here where Airbus ES is basically a vassal of Airbus DS and seems to systematically vote along with Airbus DS, so it's not a balanced partnership like GCAP (with 3 equal partners) or like Eurofighter (with 4+ partners and multiple ways to come to a majority decision.)
I agree with this, and I believe this is why the 3 way FCAS industrial partnership was originally set up this way, with France & Dassault accepting that 2 different parts of Airbus would be involved, each representing different customers and therefore in theory somewhat independent from each other. This should lead to consensus based decision making.The problem with this argument is it assumes the Spanish government is incapable of expressing an opinion and having Airbus ES execute it, which I don't believe is the case. I've worked within a cross-border subsidiary situation, and there were occasions we had to deliberately subvert the instructions from HQ because they failed to recognise local issues, and even laws, pre-empted them. As a case in point: "Find a way to reword this new diktat from the Americans that doesn't make our CEO personally legally liable for any quality issue."
That said maybe there is just a large consent between germany and spain on there goal/ requierments/ demands?I agree with this, and I believe this is why the 3 way FCAS industrial partnership was originally set up this way, with France & Dassault accepting that 2 different parts of Airbus would be involved, each representing different customers and therefore in theory somewhat independent from each other. This should lead to consensus based decision making.
But the increasing level of frustration expressed by Trappier at this late stage, several years into the partnership, makes me believe that in practice something is not working and that Airbus DS and ES are voting as one unit. The alternative is that Dassault is seeking to make unreasonable and unilateral decisions that the Spanish side also systematically disagrees with... I guess that's possible, but less likely.
There are plenty more ways to tailor partnership models e.g. even with Dasssault as prime then how about having positions within the NGF team for German and Spanish personnel? It's one way of getting a more integrated team rather than a more transactional separate subcontractor status for certain components (e.g. wing design)What other alternatives would there be?
There are plenty more ways to tailor partnership modelsne.g. even with Dasssault as prime then how about having positions within the NGF team for German and Spanish personnel? It's one way of getting a more integrated team rather than a more transactional separate subcontractor status for certain components (e.g. wing design)
On the gocernment side then there's a similar need for how they want to structure themselves e.g. single Joint Programme Office?
Below is one more academic way of looking at collaboration options
but the result is impressive : Rafale whole program costs < GB or Germany or Spain or Italian costs for a best product.Eric Trappier seems hell bent to kill the entire program... Every time that i read one of his interviews i get a 1985 FEFA "deja vu" feeling.
I spent a lot of time on 757RT/777 PFCS with Boeing QA sitting at the next desk over. Though that was a tightly integrated customer/vendor situation rather than a true integrated team.BAe/MDC on Harrier II and early ASTOVL did all these at once. 'The devil you know' works too.
Yeah, that's simply not truebut the result is impressive : Rafale whole program costs < GB or Germany or Spain or Italian costs for a best product.
Talk is cheap, especially when it comes to trying to sabotage your competition.
You will seee it will finish like that , the French governement and president have lost their credibility.I would not believe anything that the mainstream media put out in regards to Germany joining GCAP yet. Just wait until the official announcement when it comes.
"We are doomed, I told you so", episode 36, yaaaawn...You will seee it will finish like that , the French governement and president have lost their credibility.
Difficult to confirm or not with just a pic.Dunno, hard to guess the exact sizes, but again to me it seemed still much smaller than the latest NGF concept images.
Here a scale plan made back then using all references available at the time :
View attachment 777434
Seems to me more Rafale size (if a bit bigger) than a F-47, J-20 or the other super fighters.View attachment 777435
You're wrong.Yeah, that's simply not true
The £37B includes Typhoon lifetime support costs, so this isn't a fair comparison really.National Audit Office (GB) said the 160 EF2000 of RAF cost a total of 37 £ billions, so nearly 45 € billions.
That would indeed be how a business would run things! Throw in some production of the most labor intensive fuselage elements in an even cheaper country (Greece or India would make a lot of sense). With German and French factories focusing on the most complex and high value subsystems, avionics etc.There's definite scope for efficiencies over the Eurofighter model for SCAF. e.g. How about a single production line in Spain to benefit from the lower labour costs?
No, that is purely conjecture on my part. Feel free to dismiss. It is based only on 2 factors:That would be a curious outcome. Kaan for the army and F-35 or nothing for their Navy? Humm... Where would someone fish such affirmation? Is there any report on that?
Given the current government's travails, both are very liable to change in the near future.1. No sense of urgency in military buildup in Spain.
2. Spain's political realignment with Turkey.
Once again it seems to be kinda ignored that with France's know-how and it's defense technological and industrial base they couldn't produce a "sovereign fighter" that's anywhere near as ambitious as the "wonky trinational program".If you gave France’s know-how and it's defense technological and industrial base ( from design&assembly to engines, sensors, and weapons ) to South Korea, India, or Turkey and then asked them whether they’d rather build a 100% sovereign fighter on their own or take a 33% stake in a wonky trinational program with no control over exports ... they’d laugh in your face.
Given how popular the Rafale still is despite being only 4th gen in the dawn of 6th gens, I assume if France pursued a 6th gen on its own and permitted its exports to whomever also bought Rafales (at least), then it would likely become an export success, and easily overcome any financial problems involved.Once again it seems to be kinda ignored that with France's know-how and it's defense technological and industrial base they couldn't produce a "sovereign fighter" that's anywhere near as ambitious as the "wonky trinational program".
Because once again: if they could have done something comparable on their own, they would have done so, as they usually do. And they would have laughed in everyone's face. But reality is quite the opposite.
Not to mention that Turkey and South Korea are currently developing indigenous fighters that are on paper more advanced than anything France has developed to a similar stage thus far.
Again, if France could deliver a proper 6th generation fighter in a timely manner alone, even when the investment would only pay off later, they would have done so. If they were that capable and confident, they wouldn't cling to FCAS like they do despite all the trouble.Given how popular the Rafale still is despite being only 4th gen in the dawn of 6th gens, I assume if France pursued a 6th gen on its own and permitted its exports to whomever also bought Rafales (at least), then it would likely become an export success, and easily overcome any financial problems involved.
Who says a program has to be as ambitious from day one ?Once again it seems to be kinda ignored that with France's know-how and it's defense technological and industrial base they couldn't produce a "sovereign fighter" that's anywhere near as ambitious as the "wonky trinational program".
This program was launched by politicians ... you're making it sound like the french industry came to the conclusion that in order to develop a next gen fighter, France desperatly needed Germany and Spain's helpBecause once again: if they could have done something comparable on their own, they would have done so, as they usually do. And they would have laughed in everyone's face. But reality is quite the opposite.
Thank you for this question, as it is clearly very important and strategic. In the military domain, and particularly in combat aviation, complete sovereignty is essential. A country cannot be truly sovereign without sovereignty in combat aviation. This is what makes a country like France strong: outside of the United States, it is still the only Western country capable of designing a combat aircraft from A to Z.
Sovereignty in combat aviation necessarily includes sovereignty over engines. Achieving this engine sovereignty means mastering the hot sections—the parts that operate at extremely high temperatures. It also requires sovereignty in the development of the materials that make up these hot sections, particularly the high-pressure turbines.
For this major strategic reason, we decided to acquire Aubert & Duval, a company belonging to the Eramet group, which Eramet wanted to sell and which had been struggling after years of operational and quality crises. Airbus supported us in this effort, and we acquired the company in 2020 with the support of Tico and a fund we had created to support the sector.
The primary strategic reason was therefore to work with a French alloy producer, which is absolutely critical for an engine manufacturer. Alloy development, especially for alloys that must withstand very high temperatures, is a highly specialized “craft.” In the Western world, all major alloy producers are American, except for Aubert & Duval, the only French one. It therefore seemed essential to regain control of this expertise to guarantee our sovereignty and to develop the materials needed for next-generation engines, particularly for the SCAF engine.
Historically, it was with Aubert & Duval that we developed the materials needed for the Rafale engine nearly 40 years ago, and it is with them that we will develop the materials for the next-generation SCAF engine.
Let’s not forget the Mirage-sized stealthy UCAV that will enter service around the same time as KAAN in the early 2030's ... and it won't need an american engine...Not to mention that Turkey and South Korea are currently developing indigenous fighters that are on paper more advanced than anything France has developed to a similar stage thus far.