Europe’s Future Combat Air System (FCAS) is set to revolutionize air defense, integrating next-generation manned jets with unmanned remotely piloted carriers of various sizes. This ambitious program will create a fully networked ‘system of systems’, leveraging open architectures that allow seamless integration with existing platforms such as the A400M and A330 MRTT tanker. Central to this system is the Air Combat Cloud, which will facilitate collaborative operations among these assets.
But what does the term Air Combat Cloud signify? Ignacio Rosell, FCAS Combat Cloud Product Solution Lead at Airbus, often clarifies this concept: “Consider the Android ecosystem, where an operating system enables various applications to coexist, supported by infrastructures like 5G, Bluetooth, or Wi-Fi. In the context of FCAS, we are developing a significant component of the ‘Internet of Military Things’. In this framework, fighter aircraft, unmanned aerial systems (UAS), warships, satellites, or even ground soldiers can be considered as interconnected mobile devices, equipped with unique applications and capabilities. Our Air Combat Cloud embodies this concept, incorporating the necessary communication infrastructure, operating systems, and applications to operate collaboratively,” explains Rosell.
The FCAS initiative, launched by France, Germany, and Spain, is spearheaded by Airbus, Dassault Aviation, and Indra. It stands as one of Europe’s pivotal defense programs for the coming decades. As global instability escalates, the project’s primary objective is to craft an advanced air defense system that safeguards Europe while ensuring strategic autonomy and technological sovereignty.
Airbus is at the forefront of the Combat Cloud sector, collaborating closely with industry partners Thales and Indra. This segment is one of seven defining areas of the next-generation FCAS technology, as outlined by Marc Paskowski at Airbus. The Combat Cloud will maintain a common situational awareness across all connected manned and unmanned platforms, processing immense volumes of data in a trusted manner and converting it into actionable intelligence through advanced learning technologies. “The air combat cloud’s essence lies in enabling all elements to continuously interoperate, forming a cohesive system that functions and engages as a singular unit,” remarks Paskowski.
For FCAS, the operating system will prioritize openness, ensuring compatibility with both off-the-shelf and customized applications, including concepts like manned-unmanned teaming developed by Airbus and its partners. “Our business model surrounding the Combat Cloud will not be singular. Services such as satellite connectivity could be provided as a service, whereas mission-critical applications might be developed as distinct products,” adds Rosell.
Demonstrators for the New Generation Fighter and Remote Carriers connected to the Combat Cloud are anticipated to take their maiden flights in 2028/2029.
The incremental rollout of cloud capabilities is designed to offer users various functions and to connect remote carriers prior to FCAS achieving operational status in the 2040s. Notably, Airbus has successfully executed the world’s first operation of a Remote Carrier flight test demonstrator launched from a flying A400M.
The Air Combat Cloud represents a transformative digital approach to military operations. Future scenarios will demand profound automation for information management and the integration of military branches throughout mission cycles, leveraging innovations in fields such as big data, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity. This advanced computational capacity will facilitate the distribution of Command and Control (C2) roles, potentially empowering pilots and key personnel with real-time mission-relevant data. “This will provide air force decision-makers with unparalleled situational awareness,” highlights Paskowski.
With great power comes great responsibility. As our reliance on artificial intelligence grows, particularly regarding platforms like ChatGPT and their workplace implications, the incorporation of AI into the FCAS Air Combat Cloud raises essential ethical considerations. Questions persist regarding the extent to which AI should inform the decision-making process and which ethical criteria should govern its application.
Airbus, alongside the Fraunhofer Institute, launched an expert commission in 2019 to address ethical questions and legal principles within the FCAS program, collaborating with stakeholders from the German Air Force, academic institutions, and diverse foundations to ensure responsible technology usage. With this framework, the AI integrated into the FCAS Air Combat Cloud will analyze complex scenarios across multi-domain operations and recommend optimal actions. Human operators will retain ultimate control, continually validating AI suggestions. “Our European air defense system will be under the full control of a responsible human operator at all times,” concludes Paskowski.
Airbus has been integrating AI into its operations since the 1990s, particularly in satellite imagery interpretation. Its AI-driven OneAtlas services utilize a constellation of optical and radar satellites to deliver insights across various sectors, from environmental management to urban planning. In aviation, Airbus employs its Skywise big data platform to collect and analyze data from 24,000 aircraft parameters, helping airlines enhance operational efficiency through predictive maintenance.
The FCAS program comprises a comprehensive suite of seven development areas, marking a significant evolution in European defense capabilities and technology.
Source: Airbus Defence and Space (2023-11-20)
