EADS: New European Technology Programme for Combat Air Systems of the Future
Munich / Paris / Madrid, le 19 novembre 2001
EADS European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company welcomes the news that the Ministers of Defence of France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Sweden and the UK today have declared their intent to carry out a joint study aimed at providing an initial assessment of their respective future combat air system capability requirements in a 2020 timeframe.
EADS, together with the other major European Aerospace Companies (Alenia Aerospazio-Finmeccanica, BAE SYSTEMS, Dassault Aviation and Saab) all recognise the long term capability needs, identified by the Governments, which will require systems and technologies to be developed and demonstrated jointly to maximise the effect of research and technology across Europe. As a result, they have expressed an intention to work together with the common aim of performing:
-
work in some high priority areas already identified, such as stealthy platforms, C4ISR integrated systems (Command, Control, Communication, Computation, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) networking via data link, propulsion systems, and the command and control of uninhabited air vehicles, all of which are expected to be initiated straight away.
-
the risk-reduction technology programme set up under the name of European Technology Acquisition Programme (ETAP) which will result from the Intergovernmental study and which will include Technology Demonstration Projects (TDPs), concept demonstrations and Technology Demonstration Vehicles (TDVs) within the key technology areas for combat air systems to be either adapted to existing systems or to be included in the future joint European system for deployment in the 2020 timeframe.
-
also any follow-on Systems Development programmes (manned and / or unmanned systems) as requested to fulfill the Six-Nation military requirements as they emerge.
EADS wishs to confirm full support for the European Governments initiative. EADS also assures its commitment to work with the European Governments and the major European aerospace companies to develop the necessary technologies and competences. This will meet the military demands of a European combat air system capability for the 2020 timeframe whilst sustaining an efficient and globally competitive European Aerospace and Defence Systems Industry.
"EADS supports the political decision taken today, which will give Europe a gaining momentum in the military aircraft segment, with the same spirit of cooperation already achieved in Airbus and in military programmes", said Philippe Camus and Rainer Hertrich, Joint CEO's of EADS. "Being a long-standing partner in many international projects and the first European trans-national aerospace company, we have prepared ourselves for such an important step, which hopefully will be followed by others in the nearer future."
Your contact:
Military Aircraft
Wolfram Wolff
Phone: +49-89-607 25711
Fax: +49-89-607 22455
e-mail: wolfram.wolff@m.eads.net
