The signing formalizes the Statement of Intent announced by the two governments at the French UK summit held on 31 January 2014, with the contract due to commence this Autumn.
This work continues the cooperation at both a strategic and industrial level in the future combat air system arena between France and the UK since the signing of a bilateral treaty in 2010, and builds upon the success of existing national programmes such as nEUROn in France and Taranis in the UK.
Eric Trappier, Chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation, and Ian King, CEO of BAE Systems, said: “This represents a key step in our partnership and provides a joint roadmap for cooperation between our companies that could ultimately lead to a joint FCAS programme in the future”.
With over 8,000 military and civil aircraft delivered to 83 countries over the last 60 years, logging some 28 million hours in flight, Dassault Aviation has built up expertise recognized worldwide in the design, development, sale and support of all types of aircraft, ranging from the Rafale fighter to the high-end Falcon family of business jets and military drones.
BAE Systems delivers a wide range of advanced defence, aerospace and security solutions that provide a performance edge. BAE Systems works together with local partners to develop, engineer, manufacture and support the innovations that increase defence sovereignty, sustain economies and safeguard commercial interests.
