Future Combat Air System (UK)

This article is about various British projects. For the French/German/Spanish project, see Future Combat Air System.

The Future Offensive Air System was a study to replace the Royal Air Force's strike capability, at the time provided by the Tornado GR4. Initial operational capability was expected around 2017. The FOAS was cancelled in June 2005 and was replaced by the Deep and Persistent Offensive Capability (DPOC) requirement, which was itself cancelled in the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review.

Various abortive projects and collaborations followed. Since 2018 the UK has been pursuing its Combat Air Strategy, a key part of which is the Future Combat Air System.[1] As of 2021, the main output of this has been the BAE Systems Tempest aircraft concept and related technologies which will replace the Typhoon.[2][3]

France, Germany and Spain are collaborating on a replacement aircraft for their Rafale and Typhoon aircraft, also titled Future Combat Air System.

  1. ^ "£30-million injection for UK's first uncrewed fighter aircraft". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2021-03-17.
  2. ^ Taylor, Trevor (November 2000). "Gambling Responsibly and the UK Tempest Programme: Experiences, Risks and Opportunities" (PDF). rusi.org. Royal United Services Institute. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2020-11-30. Retrieved 2021-03-16.
  3. ^ "Combat Air Strategy: An ambitious vision for the future" (PDF). Ministry of Defence. 16 July 2018. Retrieved 2021-03-16.