The Future Combat Air System, a €10 billion joint venture with the United Kingdom and Spain, aims to replace France's Rafale by 2035.
Tardif explained that the new system will not be a single aircraft but a network of vehicles and sensors that can operate as one – a concept he calls "collaborative combat." In a contested electromagnetic field, the network must maintain connectivity through directional links and adaptive bubbles.
Artificial intelligence will be woven into the architecture, but Tardif admitted the exact role of AI for air crews remains uncertain. He said the French Air Force will still need to define how AI augments pilot decision‑making in real‑time missions.
The general also highlighted joint training, noting that French pilots have recently flown Russia‑designed Su‑30s in India, gaining exposure to non‑NATO procedures and platforms. That experience, he added, broadens the Air Force's operational perspective.
The Ministry of Armed Forces has slated the first FCAS prototype trials for 2027, with a view to securing EU joint‑procurement approval by 2028.