GMV, SENER Aeroespacial and TECNOBIT-GRUPO OESIA to lead the Remote Carrier Technology Pillar for the NGWS/FCAS defense project

The Spanish companies GMV, SENER Aeroespacial and TECNOBIT- GRUPO OESÍA have reached an agreement, in coordination with the Spanish Ministry of Defense, to jointly lead Spain’s participation in the Remote Carrier Technology Pillar (Pilar Tecnológico de Operadores Remotos).

The Remote Carrier Technology Pillar forms part of the Next Generation Weapon System (NGWS) project, included within the concept of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS). Spain is inputting 33% of this Remote Carrier Technology Pillar, representing an unprecedented contribution in Europe’s aerospace industry.

The particular remit of the Remote Carrier Technology Pillar is to develop new technology and evaluate new concepts, in coordination with the new NGWS/FCAS combat manned aircraft, based on a set of unmanned vehicles, some of them with ISTAR observation capability.

Within this overarching scheme the agreement entered into by GMV, SENER Aeroespacial and TECNOBIT-GRUPO OESÍA represents a great stride forward for Spanish industry’s participation in the NGWS/FCAS project and opens the doors for the development of disruptive technology, with the knock-on benefits for Spain’s industrial technology base as a whole. Special mention here must be made of universities and technological research centers due to the dual character of many of the research initiatives coming under the umbrella of the Remote Carrier Technology Pillar.

The three companies between them pool a wide range of aeronautics, space, defense and security technology. Drawing on their wealth of experience in major international programs and the management of complex consortia, they will now be offering all this expertise to the MoD and the Spanish technology and industrial team as defined by the Spanish Directorate General of Armaments and Material (Dirección General de Armamento y Material).

THE NGWS PROGRAM, A FUNDAMENTAL PART OF THE FCAS

The FCAS program aims to develop a “system of systems” connecting interoperable manned and unmanned air platforms. Driven by German and France, it is one of Europe’s biggest defense projects. Spain has been participating as national partner since 2019. Spain’s participation in FCAS, through NGWS and other programs, is considered to be a sovereignty-enhancing state project that contributes towards the construction of Europe, ongoing technological development and the knitting together of an industrial fabric, while also generating a large number of highly skilled jobs.

During the first phase of the program, to be carried out between 2020 and 2030, the technology underpinning the future combat system will be developed and trialed, including the design, development and production of technology demonstrators.

By signing this agreement the three companies show their total commitment to the FCAS program, through NGWS, and their readiness to tackle the pillar’s technological challenges. This helps to bring out Spain’s engineering capability and quality, with the main aim of upholding and developing Spain’s industrial potential and interests.