In order to adapt to new tactics, concepts and collaboration standards, as well as new design rules applicable to the evolution of legacy systems evolution and future systems, the mission systems should be flexible and scalable. This requires the development of key technologies and capability building blocks for collaborative air combat, such as but not limited to:

• A service-oriented architecture that allows all nations to operate together through common standard and functional interfaces, without having to use the same equipment or assets, would contribute to the modernisation of the various EU Member States’ and EDF Associated Countries’ military fleets.
• Interoperability standards for Information Technology (IT) systems (e.g., communication, dissemination, service sharing, cyber security), including a common data format reference, that enable joint combat and provide a common entry point and common processes for proprietary systems.
• Scalable edge computing with huge amounts of processing power and storage capacity on board new generation assets (manned or unmanned) to implement and enhance several mission management functions. Tightly integrated operation of manned and unmanned assets (through collaborative mission management) or intelligent processing of heterogeneous sensor data (e.g., radar, optronics and electronic warfare) across heterogeneous assets could therefore be enabled, improving the overall operational performance of each asset and its perception of the rapidly evolving tactical environment.
• Dedicated Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies in a variety of technical and operational domains, such as but not limited to flight certification and airworthiness standardisation issues, or the identification, selection and use of prototypical AI toolkits, libraries, methods (e.g., machine learning, neural networks, …), in order to ensure a trustworthy command and control of manned and unmanned systems from the perspective of an airborne combat asset, as well as the correct handling and exploitation of the wealth of information generated by distributed sensors across collaborating assets.

Existing and future open standards (e.g., ECOA, IMA) need to be addressed. Regarding software, these open standards need to be addressed to meet the challenge of harmonising the software footprint of all types of equipment and systems operating in the airpower framework.

Proposals must investigate solutions for standardised collaborative air combat, supported by demonstrations, where appropriate, for application to challenging air combat scenarios in contested and highly contested environments.

Based on commonly agreed standards and requirements of the EU Member States and EDF Associated Countries, proposals must initially aim at medium-term results to be implemented as standardised collaborative mission management to positively influence the development of the next generation of EU air combat capabilities.

Proposals must consider manned and unmanned combat platform assets to be operated by the EU Member States and EDF Associated Countries, and related concepts, as part of next generation systems for air combat operations through an incremental interoperability approach.

Proposals must take into account the foreseeable evolution of mission systems, aiming at standardised functional and physical interfaces of effectors and consolidating at EU level common and harmonised processes for the operation of relevant AI technologies, with a view to ensuring EU autonomy on AI engineering tools and libraries. In addition, to ensure compliance with NATO and other possible coalition situations, proposals must also address interoperability with systems of non-EU origin and NATO standards, allowing for extended interaction between combat aircraft and a variety of collaborative assets used in all other operational domains that contribute to air combat operations.

Proposals may consider potential implementations on existing platforms if a major upgrade is foreseen.