ILA 2024: Diehl reveals FEANIX loyal wingman

Seen alongside the Eurofighter at ILA 2024, the FEANIX is billed as a light remote carrier ‘loyal wingman'. (Janes/Gareth Jennings)

Diehl Defence revealed its new Future Effector – Adaptable, Networked, Intelligent, Xpendable (FEANIX) ‘loyal wingman' at the ILA Berlin Air Show running from 5 to 9 June.

The low-observable (LO) light remote carrier (LRC) is designed to be launched from all domains, and is equipped with a range of lethal and non-lethal effectors.

“LRCs [such as FEANIX] are the missiles of the future in operational, overall joint forces operations in order to master the upcoming challenges within the networked and highly competitive battlefield,” Diehl said. “Their teaming and swarming capability is a game changer in future scenarios.”

Full- and subscale models of the FEANIX were showcased at ILA 2024 alongside the Eurofighter Typhoon and the New Generation Fighter (NGF) that will sit at the core of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS)/Système de Combat Aérien du Futur (SCAF) programme.

Specifications released by Diehl give the FEANIX a weight of more than 300 kg and a length of more than 4 m. Diehl did not disclose performance figures, except to say that they are long range. “FEANIX is also characterised by its networking, swarming, robustness, and stand-off capability, the company added. “The required complexity in mission control can be achieved by the outsourcing of functions and capabilities, which is made possible through the use of LRCs.”

FEANIX is currently a self-financed project, and is part of a wider company effort to develop LRCs for future employment and to fill what it sees as a gap in the current inventories of the armed forces.

For more information on loyal wingmen, please see Disposable heroes: Rise of the attritable loyal wingmen .