Analysis of the crucial stages in a country’s planning for the development of a combat aircraft: objectives, technologies, financing, cooperation.

Planning the development of a combat aircraft is a complex and lengthy process, requiring a multidisciplinary, strategic and financial approach. For a government, this planning must take several factors into account: long-term operational requirements, emerging technologies, industrial capabilities and international partnerships. The process is divided into several phases, from the analysis of threats and strategic objectives to the commissioning of the aircraft. All this planning is based on precise technological choices, often substantial budgets and a long-term vision that can extend over several decades. This article explains how a government should structure this planning to ensure the success of its military aeronautics project.

Define strategic and operational objectives

The starting point in planning the development of a combat aircraft is to define the strategic objectives of national defence. First and foremost, a state must analyse the potential threats, whether geopolitical or technological, and determine the future missions that its air force will face. These missions may include air-to-air, air-to-ground, reconnaissance or electronic warfare operations.

The government must therefore plan for the capabilities needed for the future: maximum speed, range, stealth, payload and adaptability to current and future weapons. For example, the F-35 was designed to incorporate electronic warfare systems, optimised stealth and the ability to operate in contested areas, meeting the strategic needs of the United States. Another example is the Rafale, developed as a multi-role aircraft capable of carrying out a wide variety of missions with flexibility.

Consequences of defining objectives :
Precise objectives help to define the technical specifications of the future aircraft. Based on these requirements, technological and industrial choices can be made. If requirements are poorly defined, this can lead to cost overruns and delays, as was observed in the Eurofighter Typhoon programme, where differences between European partners on specifications led to major delays.

Identify critical technologies and draw up a research plan

Once the strategic objectives have been set, the French government must identify the critical technologies needed to design the combat aircraft. This involves defining the avionics, propulsion, stealth and electronic warfare systems. Particular emphasis should be placed on emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, advanced sensors and high-speed communication systems.

States may also choose to include autonomous or semi-autonomous capabilities, as the US is doing with the development of Skyborg – an AI platform capable of managing certain aircraft systems autonomously. This type of technology requires massive investment in research and development (R&D).

To illustrate the importance of this phase, the American F-22 Raptor programme has allocated nearly €26 billion to R&D alone, covering decades of studies before going into production. The time between programme initiation and final production can vary between 15 and 25 years, depending on technological advances.

Consequences of technological identification :
The success or failure of a combat aircraft development programme depends largely on the mastery of critical technologies. If a technology proves inadequate or too costly to develop, the overall project may be compromised. The cost of the F-35 far exceeded initial forecasts due to technical problems with flight management and avionics software.

Choosing industrial partners and setting a budget

The development of a combat aircraft requires the participation of several national and international industrial partners. These manufacturers must have expertise in critical areas of military aeronautics, such as the manufacture of composite structures, the design of high-performance engines, and the development of radar and countermeasure systems.

The choice of partners determines a country’s ability to meet its deadlines and budgets. For example, as part of the Tempest programme, the UK has joined forces with companies such as BAE Systems, Leonardo and Rolls-Royce to pool the industrial skills needed to build this future European fighter aircraft. Similarly, Sweden has worked with the UK and several other European countries to develop the Saab Gripen.

The budget is another key point: between €10 and €40 billion is needed to develop a new fighter aircraft, depending on the specifications and the degree of technological innovation. In France, the Rafale development programme cost around €45 billion, including research, production and updates throughout its lifecycle.

Consequences of the choice of partners and budget:
A poor choice of partners can lead to delays, technological dependence and cost inflation. Governments must ensure that they diversify their suppliers to minimise the risk of disruption to the supply chain. Budget overruns can jeopardise other military projects if financial adjustments are necessary.

Setting a realistic schedule and managing risks

The planning of a military aircraft programme must include a realistic timetable, taking into account the complexity of the project and any difficulties encountered during development. In general, a combat aircraft takes between 15 and 20 years to reach the operational phase, from initial studies to entry into service.

Scheduling must include rigorous test phases, such as flight tests, weapons systems integration tests, and endurance tests under extreme conditions. Each phase must be completed in a timely manner to avoid costly delays, as was the case with the F-35, where software testing led to several years of delays.

Risk management is also crucial. Governments need to anticipate potential difficulties, be they delays in the supply chain, changing strategic requirements or unforeseen technological innovations. By setting up crisis management teams, they can react quickly to technical or financial problems.

Consequences of risk management :
If planning is poorly executed, it can not only increase costs, but also delay the delivery of critical operational capabilities. In the case of the Eurofighter Typhoon programme, differences in the national priorities of the European partners contributed to a delay of several years in production.

Planning updates and the aircraft life cycle

The development of a combat aircraft does not stop when it enters service. Modern aircraft must be designed to evolve throughout their life cycle, which can extend over 40 to 50 years. Periodic upgrades of avionics, engines, radars and weapons are necessary to keep the aircraft competitive against adversaries using more recent technologies.

For example, the Rafale regularly benefits from updates, known as standards, to improve its electronic warfare capabilities, integrate new missiles and optimise its flight performance. These improvements can represent up to 30% of the initial development cost of an aircraft.

Consequences of life-cycle planning :
Failure to plan for upgrades can quickly render an aircraft obsolete, especially in a military environment where technologies are constantly evolving. By anticipating developments, you can extend the life of your aircraft without having to replace it prematurely. In addition, regular updates ensure that the aircraft remains a credible deterrent over the long term.

The whole planning process requires close coordination between governments, armed forces and industry. Developing a combat aircraft is not just a technological challenge, but also a long-term strategic undertaking that commits considerable resources and influences national security for several decades.

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