Farnborough International Airshow Confirmed as a 2024, Not 2023, Event
The Farnborough International Airshow is a major exhibition showcasing new technologies and international cooperation across the aerospace, defense and space industries. However, the event is held every other year, and no official Farnborough International Airshow took place in 2023.
According to official announcements, the dates listed in the draft—July 18–22, 2023—actually corresponded to the 2022 event. The most recent show was held from July 22 to 26, 2024, attracting more than 100,000 visitors and around 1,400 exhibitors from over 100 countries.
Combat Clouds and Manned-Unmanned Teaming Gain Momentum
At the Farnborough International Airshow, the combat cloud concept emerged as a major technology trend, linking sensors, command-and-control systems, and manned and unmanned platforms through networks. A combat cloud is a digital battlefield infrastructure that allows multiple platforms to share the information they collect, helping commanders and operators assess situations more quickly.
However, the acronym CCA can refer to both Collaborative Combat Aircraft—uncrewed combat aircraft designed to support manned fighters—and Combat Cloud Architecture, depending on the context. At the 2024 event, the integration of these concepts through manned-unmanned teaming and network-centric operational capabilities stood out as a key direction for next-generation air warfare.
Germany and France presented an operational concept under the FCAS initiative in which manned fighters and a range of unmanned platforms are connected through a cybersecure combat cloud. The concept highlights how the ability to integrate multiple sensors and platforms into a single operational network is becoming more important than the performance of any one aircraft.
GCAP Unveils a Next-Generation Fighter Concept Model
One of the leading defense stories at the 2024 Farnborough International Airshow was the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), being developed by the United Kingdom, Italy and Japan. The three countries jointly unveiled a new concept model for their next-generation fighter, signaling progress on the program.
BAE Systems, Leonardo and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries are working with their respective governments on the design and development of the future fighter. The model displayed a more advanced configuration than earlier concepts, while the partners also highlighted a collaborative development process supported by digital modeling and virtual reality.
GCAP is viewed as a program that integrates not only a next-generation fighter but also unmanned teaming, data sharing, long-range precision strike and electronic warfare capabilities. The display therefore represented more than the unveiling of a particular aircraft’s appearance; it offered a glimpse of the future direction of air combat systems.
Expanded Displays of Missiles and Counter-Drone Systems
In the weapons arena, European defense contractor MBDA showcased major systems for air-to-air, air-to-ground and air-defense missions. The exhibits included ASRAAM, MICA and Meteor air-to-air missiles, along with short-range air-defense and counter-drone technologies.
MBDA also introduced its Orchestrike concept, which uses artificial intelligence to enable multiple weapons to attack targets cooperatively. The concept reflects a broader technological shift focused not only on the performance of individual missiles but also on breaking through layered air-defense networks through information sharing and the allocation of tasks among weapons.
Counter-drone systems and very short-range air-defense weapons designed to counter small unmanned aircraft and loitering munitions also attracted attention. The fact that counter-drone technology has become a core category at recent defense exhibitions reflects the growing use of low-cost unmanned systems for reconnaissance and attack.
Defense Markets Are Being Reshaped Around International Cooperation
The Farnborough International Airshow is more than a venue for displaying weapons and aircraft. It also serves as a forum where governments, militaries and defense companies discuss joint development and export cooperation. At the 2024 event, multinational programs in which countries share technology, costs and industrial capacity emerged as a central theme, as did manned-unmanned teaming technologies such as the Israeli military’s creation of a new AI- and drone-focused unit.
These cooperation models offer the advantage of sharing development costs and technological risks, but they also require participating countries to reconcile different operational requirements and levels of industrial involvement. Going forward, winning defense contracts is likely to depend not only on the competitiveness of individual platforms but also on open software, network interoperability and the ability to integrate unmanned systems.
What the Farnborough International Airshow Revealed About the Future
The 2024 Farnborough International Airshow brought together many of the technologies shaping future air warfare, including next-generation fighters, combat clouds, manned-unmanned teaming, counter-drone defenses and precision-guided weapons. Exhibits related to GCAP and Northrop Grumman’s accelerated development of a small integrated combat command system, in particular, showed that air power is shifting from a focus on individual fighters toward connected systems.
The public and policymakers need to look beyond the appearance and performance figures of weapons systems to examine the command and control, communications networks, software and maintenance infrastructure that support their real-world operation. Defense competitiveness is also increasingly likely to depend not just on the development of individual pieces of equipment, but on international joint development and the ability to carry out continuous upgrades, as illustrated by the selection of Lockheed and the Boeing-Anduril team in the IFPC Inc 2 competition.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Was the Farnborough International Airshow held in 2023?
No. The Farnborough International Airshow is held every other year, and no official event took place in 2023. The dates listed in the draft—July 18–22, 2023—actually corresponded to the 2022 show.
When was the most recent Farnborough International Airshow held?
The 2024 event took place in Farnborough, Hampshire, UK, from July 22 to 26.
What does CCA mean?
Depending on the context, CCA can mean Collaborative Combat Aircraft or Combat Cloud Architecture. The former refers to uncrewed combat aircraft that support manned fighters, while the latter refers to a combat-cloud architecture connecting sensors and platforms.
What were the major defense programs unveiled at the 2024 event?
One of the key announcements was the unveiling of a next-generation fighter concept model for the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), being developed by the United Kingdom, Italy and Japan.
What weapons systems were displayed?
MBDA showcased the ASRAAM, MICA and Meteor air-to-air missiles, as well as air-defense and counter-drone technologies. Drone weapon systems, including Polish WB Group’s latest Warmate 30 reconnaissance and strike system, also drew attention, while an AI-enabled cooperative strike concept, covered in the U.S. Navy’s move to accelerate Tomahawk production amid international tensions, was also introduced.
