French Air Force Faces Challenge in Developing New Fighter Engine

France’s Chief of the Defense Staff, General Fabien Mandon, has warned that developing a new fighter engine will be the toughest challenge facing the Future Combat Air System (FCAS). Safran Aircraft Engines leads the engine pillar, with MTU Aero Engines as its main partner. The FCAS Next Generation Fighter (NGF) requires an engine producing roughly 11 tonnes of thrust. This marks a significant leap ahead of current European designs and will require new thermodynamic cycles, higher turbine temperatures, and a greater mass flow.