The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has awarded a contract extension worth GBP 656 M (EUR 742 M) to BAE Systems to progress the concept work and technology for the Tempest next-generation combat aircraft, BAE announced on 14 April 2023.
“The new funding will build on the ground-breaking science, research and engineering already completed under the first phase of the contract delivered by UK Tempest partners BAE Systems, Leonardo UK, MBDA UK and Rolls-Royce,” BAE Systems stated in a press release.
The initial contract, worth around GBP 250 M, was announced in July 2021 and officially marked that start of the concept and assessment phase of what was then the UK’s Future Combat Air System (FCAS) programme. However, the FCAS programme, in which Italy came on board as a partner, was in December 2022 merged with Japan’s F-X effort to develop a sixth-generation fighter to form the trilateral Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).
Under this latest contract the UK Tempest partners, working in close collaboration with the MoD, will now progress the maturity of more than 60 cutting-edge technology demonstrations, digital concepts and new technologies, BAE noted. These are critical to the UK’s sovereign defence capability and will help shape the final requirements – in conjunction with GCAP partners in Japan and Italy – for the combat air platform. The UK MoD is still aiming for Tempest to enter service with the Royal Air Force by 2035.
The GCAP/Tempest platform is designed to be an innovative, supersonic stealth fighter equipped with cutting-edge technologies, including state-of-the-art sensing and protection capabilities. “This will make the aircraft one of the world’s most advanced, interoperable, adaptable and connected fighter jets in service, delivering battle-winning next-generation weapons to protect the UK and its allies,” BAE stated.
“The next tranche of funding for future combat air will help fuse the combined technologies and expertise we have with our international partners – both in Europe and the Pacific – to deliver this world-leading fighter jet by 2035, protecting our skies for decades to come,” UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace was quoted as saying in the BAE press release.
Richard Berthon, the UK MoD’s Director of Future Combat Air, was quoted as saying, “Today, as planned, the UK MoD is releasing the next tranche of funding for future combat air. This shows that the UK is committed to working with international partners to deliver a next-generation fighter jet for 2035.
“We are facing a growing threat from our adversaries, who are investing in combat air and air defences of their own. By investing in GCAP, we will stay ahead of these intensifying and proliferating threats, and provide a highly credible deterrent capability for decades to come.”
Peter Felstead
