{"id":18456,"date":"2018-03-08T17:32:09","date_gmt":"2018-03-08T17:32:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2018\/03\/08\/brexit-project-delays-jeopardize-combat-drone-project-dassault-ceo-warns\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T21:46:22","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T21:46:22","slug":"brexit-project-delays-jeopardize-combat-drone-project-dassault-ceo-warns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/industry\/techwatch\/2018\/03\/08\/brexit-project-delays-jeopardize-combat-drone-project-dassault-ceo-warns\/","title":{"rendered":"Brexit, project delays jeopardize combat drone project, Dassault CEO warns"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

PARIS \u2015 A delay in the launch of an Anglo-French technology<\/a> demonstrator for a combat drone<\/a> has sparked uncertainty, with Britain\u2019s approaching exit from the European Union a key factor, according to the chairman and CEO of Dassault Aviation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cNaturally, Brexit worries<\/a> the British authorities, and not just the British authorities but also British industry,\u201d Eric Trappier said March 8 at a media conference on 2017 financial results. \u201cWe are at a time when it has to be decided to launch, or not, a demonstrator for a combat drone.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A high-level Anglo-French working group is scheduled to meet March 29 to discuss progress on the program, but no announcement on the demonstrator\u2019s fate is expected as a result of the gathering, an industry source said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Industrial partners have worked in the last few years on a feasibility study on a Future Combat Air System, and the French GIFAS and CIDEF trade associations have called for cooperation with Britain on the launch of a demonstrator to cut the risk, Trappier said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cBut the launch expected at the start of the year has not appeared, which generates uncertainty,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dassault, Safran and Thales have been working on the French side, while BAE Systems, Leonardo and Rolls-Royce are their British partners on the feasibility study.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The U.K. and France held a bilateral summit at Britain\u2019s Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in January, but nothing new was announced regarding the launch of a demonstrator project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIn the capabilities area, we largely completed feasibility work on the Future Combat Air System project,\u201d according to the U.K. briefing document on the summit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Britain lacks \u201cvisibility on the budget\u201d because of Brexit, and the British are also dealing with the arrival of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, Trappier said. \u201cThis uncertainty poses questions, which leaves them inclined not to decide on some large programs,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\t