Virginia is mapping the road towards the sixth generation of European fighter jets – and much more than that.

The fighter demonstrator is one pillar of the FCAS (Future Combat Air System), a programme that has set out to revolutionize military aviation, driven by the three partnering countries Spain, France and Germany. As a Technical Manager located at Airbus’ site in Getafe near Madrid, Virginia oversees the development of all technologies necessary for the first flight – projected for the second half of this decade. “Watching a plane that I worked on take flight makes me very proud”, she says. “But more importantly there are so many things to learn along the way, so many challenges to solve. It really keeps you going.”

“I am always highly motivated. It’s the satisfaction to supply the best solution. There are many interesting programmes at Airbus Defence and Space – but FCAS is by far the most complex one right now.”

Virginia is not a typical engineer. After an internship in England, she moved to the Netherlands where she participated in the Galileo programme and helped develop a European solution for satellite navigation. Originally not an expert in software development, she grew into an environment where software was strongly emphasized – simply because the hardware was operating in space. “When I started working for the jet fighter program, I was happy to once again work with something tangible, something I could see and touch.” That said, it’s that expertise in digital technology that made her the perfect fit for the job.

Getafe is home to one of the oldest Spanish military air bases, established in 1911. Right next door, Virginia and the rest of the team are busy shaping the future of military aviation. “The jet is only one pillar of the project. It’s a component in a multi-modal system of systems. Before the first flight of the demonstrator, every system and every component that is part of the FCAS project will be virtualized and digitally simulated, ensuring that they interface which each other flawlessly.” Military aviation already is highly computerized, still every jet is a closed platform. In the system of systems envisioned by Virginia and her colleagues at FCAS, every platform and every component will be connected, communicating and sharing the same set of data in real time: fighter jets, unmanned aerial vehicles, satellites in orbit and systems on the ground.

“We have the setup to get the job done. Working as a strong alliance, fostering collaborative spirit between our countries, achieving together what would be impossible or take much longer if done separately.”

“As an aeronautical engineer, this clearly is my dream job”, Virginia says, adding that FCAS is also recruiting experts from other fields, like software developers and cyber security experts, working together in one interdisciplinary and highly international environment. It’s an incredibly complex endeavor – but Virginia is convinced that Airbus’ has just the right setup to make it happen.