Future Combat Air System

Military Capability

Record date: 31 March 2026

Whole-life cost: Not disclosed
Published schedule: 26/04/2019 – Exempt under Section 22 - Information intended for future publication
NISTA delivery confidence: RED
Senior responsible owner: Richard Berthon

What the project is for

The Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme will identify the combat air system to replace Typhoon, which will retire from service from the mid-2030s. FCAS will be primarily responsible for delivering Control of the Air, and contribute to Attack and Information, Surveillance and Reconnaissance. Military advantage in Combat Air will require a System of highly adaptable and networked capabilities, that together deliver military effects greater than the sum of the parts. Able to operate inside a multi-domain information environment or in isolation, the system will exploit open mission architectures to allow freedom of modification and rapid technology insertion. The System will be enabled through a combination of core platforms, uncrewed additives and complex weapons with the optimal force mix to be determined during the Concept and Assessment Phase. An international programme by design, the UK is working with several international partners to define the longer-term partnership construct for the Enterprise.

Departmental delivery commentary

Compared to financial year 24/25 Q4, the NISTA/SRO Delivery Confidence Assessment (DCA) rating at 25/26 Q4 remained at Red. This is primarily due to the following factors. 1. The continued Red rating reflects the programme’s relative maturity, its scale and the complexity involved in meeting the challenges of successful design, delivery and support of a 6th generation fighter jet. The immediate focus is securing the necessary multi-year funding and approval settlements that will allow the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) to move to the next phase and see the first international development contract between the GCAP Agency and the tri-national Edgewing Joint Venture signed. 2. Other challenges faced by the programme include the design and delivery of a tri-national secure digital network and Collaborative Working Environment that equally supports novel approaches to digital engineering and digital qualification and certification objectives, whilst ensuring cyber resiliency and intellectual property protections.

Schedule

Exempt under Section 22 - Information intended for future publication

Cost

Exempt under Section 43 - Commercial interests

Benefits

Compared to financial year 24/25-Q4, the project's departmentally agreed Benefits at 25/26-Q4 (measured in £m) remained at 0. This is primarily due to the following factors. No monetised benefits.