A major milestone has been reached for the Excalibur Flight Test Aircraft (FTA), a key part of the UK’s Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme, as it conducts flight tests following next stage modifications.
The Excalibur FTA, a converted Boeing 757 aircraft, will act as a state-of-the-art flying laboratory to fast-track the testing of advanced sensors and integrated communications.
Delivered by Leonardo in collaboration with 2Excel, the aircraft will serve as a real-world electronics testbed for cutting-edge digital technologies and integrated systems.
Extensive modifications have been made to the aircraft in preparation for testing the new technologies, including large pods attached to the fuselage sides and underneath, and the addition of a fighter aircraft nose cone.
The FTA has successfully completed its initial flight test campaign and a series of progressively challenging test activities.
Conducted from Boscombe Down, the UK's centre of excellence for flight testing, these trials have validated key aircraft performance characteristics, aerodynamic models and critical air data system updates, while also delivering all planned certification test points to date. With compliant results achieved throughout, the programme has provided valuable evidence to support the continued development and maturation of the FTA.
The next phase of testing will incorporate noise testing and flight into known icing conditions.
The in-flight data generated will inform the continued evolution of the UK’s next-generation combat aircraft, delivered through the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), ensuring adaptability in future operational environments.
The Excalibur FTA programme supports more than 300 UK jobs, including graduates and apprentices, and is a vital part of the UK’s FCAS programme.
The programme is being delivered in collaboration with the Ministry of Defence (MOD), Leonardo and 2Excel Aviation, as part of Team Tempest.
Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, Luke Pollard MP said: “Excalibur is a clear demonstration of UK innovation and industrial strength. This milestone brings us closer to delivering a capability that will safeguard our skies and keep Britain at the cutting edge of combat air technology for decades to come.”
Andrew Howard, Director of Future Combat Air, Leonardo, said: “This is an exciting milestone for the Excalibur Flight Test Aircraft programme. Leonardo, working in partnership with the MOD and 2Excel, is driving rapid progress, with aircraft modifications advancing at pace. With the Flight Test Aircraft, we are leading the way in the development and validation of next-generation air combat technologies, providing a key enabler of FCAS and GCAP.
“A key contributor to this success is the excellent collaboration between the programme stakeholders. These achievements are a testament to the professionalism, commitment and resilience of the integrated programme team, which has continued to deliver despite the challenges inherent in complex flight test activities.”
Chris Norton, Director and Co-founder of Flight Test Aircraft Programme, 2Excel Aviation said: “The Excalibur programme is a sovereign endeavour, delivered across the UK from concept to capability. At 2Excel’s facilities in Doncaster and Lasham, apprentices and engineers are gaining hands-on experience in advanced aerospace engineering, helping to build the UK’s future skills base and secure the UK’s long-term industrial and military capabilities.
“Excalibur’s evidential success represents the culmination of the long, hard but rewarding journeys of more than 300 exceptional people.”
Over the next three years, Leonardo will integrate next-generation Integrated Communications System (ICS) and Integrated Sensing And Non-Kinetic Effects (ISANKE) onto Excalibur and conduct flight tests. These are designed to pull in information from across the battlespace to provide the most relevant, up-to-date information to allow decisions to be made more rapidly and more assuredly in increasingly challenging adversary environments.
In the early 2030s, the aircraft will undergo further upgrades to enable testing of GCAP’s operational systems. This approach reduces risk, compresses timelines and supports spiral upgrades well beyond GCAP’s entry into service.