FUTURE AIR DOMINANCE SYSTEM
MOD · MOD_0479_2425-Q4
Department page: Ministry of Defence
| Data as at | Rating | End date | Whole-life cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| March 2026 | Red (NISTA's independent assessment) | 3 August 2045 | Exempt under Section 43 - Commercial interests |
Each year’s cost is shown with its price basis. Costs are not compared between years: the March 2024 and March 2025 reports state no price basis, and from March 2026 costs are in 2024/25 prices.
The department’s commentary
This is the department’s own commentary. It may use different prices from the table above, so its figures may not match.
March 2026
Rating: The Project's Delivery Confidence Assessment rating at 25/26-Q4 is Red. This is primarily due to the following factors. 1. Over the past year, the programme has evolved to align with updated strategic direction, including the Hybrid Navy concept, and has adjusted its approach to emphasise affordability, adaptability and early operational relevance. This transition has required a refresh of assumptions and a focus on building the evidence needed to inform future decisions. 2. At the same time, the programme continues to operate within its approved Concept Phase funding, with future scope and phasing dependent on wider Defence Investment Plan outcomes. As a result, the programme is prioritising experimentation, de-risking and collaboration with industry and partners to mature options ahead of future approvals. 3. Delivery Confidence therefore reflects the programme’s current emphasis on evidence generation and strategic alignment, rather than long term delivery.
Schedule: The programme's end-date at 25/26-Q4 remains undetermined. This is primarily due to the following factors. 1. Over the past year, the FADS programme schedule has remained deliberately flexible as the programme continues to operate within its approved Concept Phase. During this period, activity has been focused on shaping future options, testing assumptions, and preparing the programme to respond to forthcoming strategic and investment decisions, rather than progressing against a fixed delivery endpoint. 2. As future scope and phasing will be determined through wider Defence planning processes, a definitive programme end date has not yet been established. In the interim, the schedule reflects an approach that prioritises readiness for decision making, including option development, engagement with partners, and the maturation of enabling activities required to support future approvals. 3. The current schedule position therefore reflects the programme’s role in informing next steps, rather than a change to an agreed end state timeline.
Cost: Exempt under Section 43 - Commercial interests
Names, figures, dates, ratings and commentary are as the department reported them. Where a rating, cost or date is withheld, the file’s wording is shown. Every major project →