Artificial Intelligence, Combat Cloud Distributed Services, Radio Frequency, Low Surveillance Technologies or Coherent Sensors are some of the latest advanced technologies to be integrated within the FCAS framework. Europe's largest cooperative defense program is developing the continent's future air combat system.
Indra, one of the world's leading technology and consulting companies, as industrial coordinator of the FCAS program in Spain, has taken a further step in the development of Phase 1B of the project and launched the “FCAS Challenge”.”, an initiative that provides an opportunity to attract talent and innovation from Spanish start-ups, SMEs and technology centres, not always linked to the defense sector, in order to develop and mature cutting-edge technologies within the FCAS framework.
The call received more than 80 proposals from 70 organizations from 14 of Spain's 17 autonomous regions.. Eight of them received an honorable mention from the jury at an event in Madrid, attended by companies and senior representatives of Indra's FCAS program and the Spanish Ministry of Defence, as well as members of the international steering committee and the joint project. International CPT Team.
The FCAS programme, in which Spain, France and Germany participate equally, is developing a system of systems consisting of a new generation fighter.in cooperation with a series of remote operators, are all connected and operate as a single entity thanks to the combat cloud, which connects all in real time and with other air, land, sea and satellite platforms.
The result will be a qualitative shift in this sector and will have a significant technological and industrial impact. It will strengthen European competitiveness and technological sovereignty in key areas such as aviation, unmanned vehicles, digital technologies, big data and artificial intelligence, providing Europe with specialized centers in dual-use technologies. In Spain alone, this project will generate thousands of highly qualified direct and indirect jobs.
The FCAS Challenge responds to the FCAS programme’s goal of being a grassroots project with a significant impact on the industrial ecosystem, in this case in Spain.
Below are the startups, SMEs and technology hubs that received the distinction by category and geographic region:
- Mission sensors: Beamagine (Catalonia) and EM3works (Galicia).
- Signal Intelligence: Multiverse Computing (Basque Country) and Pixels-Hub (Asturias).
- Smart Communications: Red Skios LTD (Community of Madrid).
- Combat Cloud: Gradiant (Galicia), in collaboration with the Barcelona Supercomputing Center – National Supercomputing Center (Catalonia); Byvolution Creative Factory (Andalusia); and REUSE (Knowledge-Based Solutions) (Community of Madrid).
Final event
During the closing ceremonyBorja Ochoa, General Director of Defense and Security at Indra, highlighted that participation in the “FCAS Challenge” is “very useful for the development of FCAS, because it bets on new actors that contribute to the strengthening of new technological capabilities and maturity” and stressed that “this project represents a pre- and post-stage.” “It is part of the most ambitious defense program to date at the Spanish and European levels.”
For his part, Major General José Antonio Gutierrez Sevilla, Deputy Director General for Programs of the General Directorate of Weapons and Materials at the Ministry of Defense, indicated that “The FCAS program is a driving force for the defense industry, and to this same goal, the FCAS Challenge not only encourages innovation, but also collaboration between companies large and small. The success of such initiatives helps stimulate the participation of new players in this transformative project.”
Through the FCAS Challenge initiative, Indra reaffirms its position as a driving force in the Spanish defense industry and ensures that the FCAS system represents a highly innovative and unprecedented technological challenge that goes beyond a simple aerospace defense project.
Read more
