page_title: Future of the Royal Air Force
section_title: Future Combat Air System (FCAS)
hierarchical_section_title: Future of the Royal Air Force / Unmanned Aerial Vehicles / Future Combat Air System (FCAS)
caption_attribution_description: English: Model of BAE Taranis UAV on display at Farnborough Airshow 2008
context_page_description: The planning for the future of the Royal Air Force involves supporting ongoing British military operations, the introduction of new aircraft types, greater focus on network enabled capability and increasing interoperability with members of NATO.
context_section_description: The Future Combat Air System (FCAS) (also known as the Unmanned Combat Air System (UCAS)) aimed to deliver an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV) by 2030. FCAS will be built in co-operation with France, utilising technology from the BAE Taranis and Dassault nEUROn technology demonstrators. Development of full-scale prototypes is expected to begin by 2017. In the Royal Air Force, FCAS will be expected to operate alongside Typhoons and F-35 Lightning IIs.
  As a UCAV, FCAS will utilise stealth technology to reduce its radar cross-section (its radar signature is reportedly the size of a dragonfly). It will feature a high degree of autonomy, enabling it to complete a large part of its missions without human control. It will have a 16-metre (50 ft) wingspan and two internal weapon bays.
  According to Bernard Gray of the Ministry of Defence, technology from FCAS could also be incorporated onto a manned platform. Other officials have also insisted that a manned option for FCAS has not been ruled out. According to a House of Commons Defence Select Committee (DSC) report, a new "clean-sheet" manned fighter design has not been ruled out, nor has the option to buy further or upgrade existing aircraft.
caption: A model of BAE Taranis.
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