The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) 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.
Led by UK sovereign combat air industry leader BAE Systems, working with the Ministry of Defence and a number of suppliers across the UK, this pioneering project will deliver the first flying combat air demonstrator in a generation – designed and developed in the UK. The demonstrator aircraft will fly within the next five years.
The flagship project is part of a suite of novel technologies being developed by Team Tempest, which comprises the expertise of the Ministry of Defence and the UK combat air leaders BAE Systems, Leonardo UK, Rolls-Royce, and MBDA UK. 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 service in 2035.
The demonstrator will provide evidence for the critical technologies, methods, and tools which will be used on the core platform. As part of the broader activity involved in developing Tempest, the demonstrator program is also helping retain, further develop and stimulate the next generation of skills and expertise required to deliver this ambitious program.
“I am delighted that the UK, alongside Italy and Japan, are working on similar combat air journeys together,” Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said. “Our work with Japan and Italy on cutting-edge technology like this shows the benefit of our alliances across the world. The design and development of the demonstrator aircraft represent an important milestone, showcasing the success and talent of our engineers, programmers, and software developers. This program will go on to attract opportunities for many more great minds and talent from across the UK.”
meta: BAE Systems is developing 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.
