Future Air Systems

 

Europe’s Aerospace Defence Technological and Industrial Base (DTIB) is critical to meet Member States Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) requirements, today and in the future. Military Aerospace is important. As well as delivering the defence capabilities that Europe requires, it represents over 55% of Europe’s Defence Industrial Base. Economically significant, it directly employs around 200,000 people with high-tech jobs spread across Member States. It comprises important system integrators and a dynamic and innovative supply chain rich in SMEs. Annual turnover is in the region of 45 billion euro.

This technically advanced sector drives high added value in other sectors and is a key component in a strong European DTIB. All the above were factors behind EDA participating Member States (pMS) in spring 2008 deciding that work on identifying key industrial capabilities should commence with Future Air Systems (FAS), in the framework of the European Defence Technological and Industrial Base (EDTIB) Strategy approved by the Defence Ministers in May 2007.

The Strategy aims at developing a truly European defence industry, able to meet the operational requirements of the armed forces of the future, technologically advanced and competitive within and outside Europe. To accomplish these targets, EDA is working on FAS together with the Members States and Industry, so as to define which capabilities need to be maintained or developed in Europe. Moreover Future Air Systems is a pilot case with a view to develop a methodology to be used in other sectors of the EDTIB in the future.

Aim

On FAS the European Defence Agency is:

  • Addressing which key industrial capabilities must be preserved or developed in Europe and conversely when we can reasonably plan to source our future needs from the wider world market, and
  • Developing a methodology to assist Member States decision making on such issues. FAS concerns the future size and shape of the European Military Aerospace DTIB taking into account future European military requirements.

Current Status

Having identified Member States’ priorities, EDA is now working on Future Air Systems in a number of concrete work strands:

  • Development of a Roadmap and implementation plan: This will result in an implementation plan, covering the next ten years, with prioritised actions for maintaining and developing those areas of the aerospace EDTIB of strategic importance. A Roadmap study was contracted in July 2010 with a view to producing a structured way ahead in consultation with all relevant stakeholders, within a period of 12 months.
  • FAS Supply Chain: Future Air Systems is a project that considers the European supply chain as a whole across Europe. To ensure full engagement EDA is working closely with the European Military Aerospace industry at all levels. Continuous dialogue with industry is a key factor if we are to accomplish high value results.
  • Traceability of FAS work to pMS capability requirements: Future Air Systems work aims at fulfilling Member States’ future military requirements. In this process traceability from military requirements to industrial capabilities is important for the FAS exercise.
  • Non-EU dependencies: Identification of current and possible future dependencies on non-EU sources of supply in this area as well as possible remedial actions is of fundamental importance in maintaining Europe’s strategic position in the military aerospace sector.
  • Engagement with ETAP: From the beginning of the work on FAS Member States noted the importance of building on similar achievements in other fora, in particular the work of the European Technology Acquisition Programme (ETAP). Moreover, EDA was tasked by Member States to engage with ETAP nations on working towards convergence of ETAP and FAS work within a reasonable timeframe. The objective is close cooperation and coordination. Building on each other’s knowledge and results where possible and to avoiding duplication.
  • Engagement with the European Commission: Identifying the key transversal issues/actions which underpin a number of military industrial capabilities - will be of particular significance in FAS work. As this work develops, there is a need to liaise very closely with the European Commission. Amongst other things their work on commercial aerospace including on helicopters and Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV)’s (Member States’ identified priorities on FAS work) offers the potential to exploit synergies.

Way Ahead

Priority should be given to the development of a Roadmap and Implementation Plan to identify specific areas where and when Europe risks losing key industrial competences in the future and to propose prioritised actions to be taken.

“We have made progress. We are creating a European approach to the Defence Technological and Industrial Base - one that recognises that it is more than a disparate range of national capacities. Europe’s Military Aerospace Industry, which represents over 55% of Europe’s DTIB, is critical to meet Member States' military requirements, but is unlikely to be sustained without transformational action and new ways of business. European collaboration must be an important part of the solution”. Carlo Magrassi, EDA’s Deputy Chief Executive (Strategy) (2007-2010), June 2010.

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