The International Fighter Conference (IFC), now in its 23rd year, has gained a reputation as the world’s premier event for all elements of the fighter aircraft community. We are delighted to confirm the 2023 IFC will take place in Madrid with the formal support of the Spanish Air and Space Force. 

With many Future Combat Air Systems under development from NGAD to FCAS to GCAP to TF-X  there is a lot of active discussion on the technologies available and the operational environments that these systems will have to contend with when they enter service 2040+.

Work to develop, refine, and operationalise key technologies to enable Manned-Unmanned Teaming (MUM-T); Artificial Intelligence (AI); the dominance of the electro-magnetic spectrum; Live Virtual and Constructive (LVC) Training; Real-time data fusion is underway. There are many technical and ethical challenges to overcome from bandwidth, and latency, to rules of engagement and autonomous lethality.

At the same time, with the Russia-Ukraine conflict focusing minds on the ability of nations to fight tonight and defence their air space there are also pressing priorities. All this at a time of budget constraints and inflation. Tough decisions need to be made and senior leaders need to act decisively and invest wisely. Challenges include delivering operational effect; sustainment and logistics; delivering airpower from dispersed locations; and the use and replenishment of munitions - including industry capacity and supply chain resiliency.