Heavy and Light Remote Carriers on Show by Airbus and Diehl Defence | Aviation International News

Farnborough Airshow 2024

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Heavy and Light Remote Carriers on Show

Airbus and Diehl Defence show mockups of remote carrier designs at Farnborough

Airbus Wingman and Diehl Defence Feanix — Airbus has a full-scale mockup of its Wingman concept for a large remote carrier on display (top), while Diehl Defence is showcasing its Feanix light remote carrier concept (bottom). © David McIntosh/AIN

By David Donald • Contributor - UK

July 23, 2024

While the defense spotlight at Farnborough falls naturally on the Anglo-Italian-Japanese Global Combat Air Program (GCAP), the rival Franco-German-Spanish Future Combat Air System (FCAS) is also evident. Part of the program involves uncrewed remote carriers (RCs) that can accompany the crewed FCAS core fighter. Two potential concepts are on show at Farnborough following their debuts at the ILA Berlin Airshow last month.

The systems represent the large and small end of the RC spectrum, and both reflect a need expressed by the German Air Force for such vehicles available before the FCAS manned fighter enters service—slated for 2040—so that they can partner and support the Luftwaffe’s manned Eurofighter and F-35 fighters in the 2030s. Other air arms have also voiced a desire for such capability ahead of the next generation of fighters entering service.

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