Don't know. For the Rafale demonstrator, the "roll-out" (in fact, it was a static presentation to the press) was on 13 December 85, the first flight on 04 July 86. But that was almost 40 years ago and it wasn't cooperative work.
Because there ain't mutch pilots in there air forces which gives ous an aircraft limit which we can fly.
Recruiting and training say an extra 50 pilots doesn't seem a particular challenge. There's no way "hundreds" of these sort of high end wingmen (or whatever they're called) are affordable outside of USA/China
an official placeholder (if you have checked original twit)
www.airbus.com
It can be but it isn't impossible. A lot of things have to happen so you can get them. For germany for example having an aging population means a lot of companies need people and most go to the one which offers the most. The Bundeswehr isn't it.
Well thats a question of costs. But if the loyal wingman cost 1/4 of NGF for example then it would be affordable as you can cut out the cost for the pilots making them even cheaper in the end.
For your correction, I did check the twit but not the Airbus link.an official placeholder (if you have checked original twit)
Unmanned escort for manned fighter jets: Airbus presents new Wingman concept at ILA Berlin
Airbus will be presenting its new Wingman concept at the International Aerospace Exhibition ILA in Berlin. It is a fighter-type drone that will be commanded by a pilot in a current combat aircraft such as the Eurofighter and can take on high-risk mission tasks that would pose a bigger threat to...
it seems to have leading edge flap and canard to emphasize maneuverability than US' similars
Side by side then. (see picture of the podium stand wih 2x2 wb door sets, side by side). Wb's length approx. 5m. So, roughly F-117 size but probably shallower.
I measured 4.5m long x 80cm wide.
Stretch it a little and put a cockpit on it, and you have your self a 6th generation fighter
I believe that the idea is to use CCAs as the low part of the high-low mix. They're nowhere near as capable as the NGF, but they're a lot cheaper because of that. See also the early F15s and F16s.
But this for example looks way way higher end than the "CCA" type things going on in other countries, and will have an associated price tag.
And they are probaly willing to pay that because they may just not be able to get the needed manned fighter. We see both low and high end CCA stuff.
That depends mostly on the sensors and other systems fitted as to how expensive the CCA is.
F-35A systems is rather 35%... https://www.secretprojects.co.uk/th...eight-multirole-fighter-lmf.38539/post-624350
Feanix is apparently Diehl's small remote carrier concept..
But where do the people to maintain, fuel, arm them come from? They need training too. Maybe they just sit around getting bored for 30 years waiting for a big enough war to break out that you can wheel out these UCAVs
