France and Britain Make Progress with Two Out of Three UAVs

A possible UCAV for the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) is depicted in this BAE Systems concept. (BAE Systems)

July 27, 2012, 12:03 PM

France and the UK signed MoUs for the first phase of a Future Combat Air System (FCAS) based on a UCAV, and for industrial and military cooperation on the Watchkeeper tactical UAV. But although British Defence Secretary Philip Hammond reported “excellent progress on UAVs” after a meeting with his French counterpart, Jean-Yves Le Drian, no agreement was reached on joint-study funding for a Male UAV. In fact, the Watchkeeper cooperation was agreed at the previous cross-channel defence ministers’ meeting last February. That meeting also looked forward to the timely signing of a Male study contract with BAE Systems and Dassault.


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