The UK Secretary of State for Defence, Ben Wallace MP, has confirmed plans for Britain to lead the development of a new flying combat air demonstrator, which will play a critical role in proving the technology and design principles needed to deliver the UK’s Future Combat Air System, BAE Systems writes in a press release. According to the company, work is being led by BAE Systems, working with the Ministry of Defence and a number of suppliers across the UK. This project is to deliver the first flying combat air demonstrator in a generation to be designed and developed in the UK. The demonstrator aircraft is scheduled to fly within the next five years.

The project is part of a suite of technologies being developed by Team Tempest, BAE Systems emphasises. These concepts are designed to demonstrate and test the next generation combat air skills, tools, processes and techniques needed to ensure TEMPEST, the UK’s Future Combat Air System, achieves in service in 2035.

JH