The Secretaries of State for Defense of Germany, France and Spain have signed the addendum to the Implementation Agreement 2 of the integration of our country in Phase 1A of the NGWS / FCAS project.
The Secretary of State for Defense, Esperanza Casteleiro Llamazares, participated this afternoon together with her counterparts from France and Germany, Joël Barre and Benedikt Zimmer respectively, in a meeting by videoconference framed within the framework of the Next Generation Weapons System (NGWS) development project which is part of the Future Air Combat System (FCAS).
In addition to reviewing the status of the project both in the phases currently contracted (Joint Concept Study and Phase 1A of R&D activities and demonstrators), as well as those that are being negotiated (Phase 1B and 2 of the R&D and demonstrators), special attention has been paid to the selection of system architectures, a critical point to continue making progress in all definition and design activities.
With the signing of the contracts that will be formalized under the protection of this Agreement and that should materialize in the coming weeks, Spain reaches the cruising speed of France and Germany and all activities and decisions in the program will be taken with a position of our country on equal terms with its partners.
The NGWS / FCAS project is essential for the future capabilities of our Armed Forces, as well as for the technological and industrial development of Defense and the generation of highly qualified employment. It also applies to many other sectors of the rest of the national industrial fabric, which is why the participation of other ministries in a State program is considered essential.