The UK unveiled a full-scale mock-up of a sixth-generation combat aircraft on the first day of the 2018 Farnborough airshow. This, described as a ‘concept aircraft’, is the result of the work of a consortium called Team Tempest, which comprises British aero­space firms and the Royal Air Force Rapid Capabilities Office. The major companies concerned are BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Leonardo UK (the British sub­sidiary of the Italian Leonardo group, previously Finmeccanica) and MBDA UK (part of the pan-European MBDA group).

The sixth generation will be the next generation of combat aircraft. The current leading-edge-technology generation of combat aircraft is the fifth generation, of which only two types, both American, are in full operational service: the Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit bomber and the Lockheed Martin F-22 Raptor fighter.

Other fifth-generation types are just entering service (the Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II and China’s Chengdu J-20) or are still under development (such as Russia’s Sukhoi Su-57).

The mock-up is the first public display of progress being made in Britain’s Future Combat Air System Technology Initiative (FCAS TI), which was launched in 2015.

Team Tempest is implementing the FCAS TI, which is being funded to the tune of £2-billion over ten years (2015 to 2025).

Within the team, BAE Systems is respon­sible for advanced combat air systems and integration, Roll-Royce for advanced propulsion and power systems, Leonardo for advanced avionics, electronics and sensors, and MBDA for advanced weapon systems. However, the programme is most certainly open to participation by international partners.

The UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) has now established a specific team to execute the future combat aircraft acquisition programme. It will conclude a ‘business case’ by the end of this year.

Initial decisions on international partners will be made by the middle of next year, with discussions starting at once.

“Early decisions around how to acquire the capability will be confirmed by the end of 2020, before final investment decisions are made by 2025,” stated the MOD in its press release. “The aim is then for a next-generation platform to have operational capability by 2035.”

The unveiling of the concept mock-up was accompanied by the launch of the MOD document, ‘Combat Air Strategy: An ambi­tious vision for the future’, by Defence Secretary (Minister) Gavin Williamson. This paper includes a heavy focus on the aerospace industry and technology, including oppor­tunities for the British economy and industry presented by the development of new aerospace technologies (including engines, weapons systems and software architectures, as well as airframes).

“We have been a world leader in the combat air sector for a century, with an enviable array of skills and technology,” he said in his address. “[T]his concept model is just a glimpse into what the future could look like. [The] British defence industry is a huge contributor to UK prosperity, creating thousands of jobs in a thriving advanced manufacturing sector.”

“The UK government’s Combat Air Strategy is a powerful statement of intent to invest in next-generation combat air systems,” affirmed BAE Systems CE Charles Woodburn.

“We’re proud to play a key role in this important programme with our world-leading technology, capability and skills, which will contribute to the UK’s defence and prosperity for decades to come.”
“The UK’s capability in combat air power and propulsion is at a critical point and this long-term commitment from government will allow us to protect the expertise and key skills that are vital to retain­ing sovereign capability,” stated Rolls-Royce CEO Warren East. “It ensures that we are able to develop and deliver the advanced technologies that will be required in future combat air systems to help ensure our national security.”

“As Britain’s national champion for advanced defence electronics, we are proud to be a part of Team Tempest,” averred Leonardo UK chairperson and MD Norman Bone.

“We are excited about the work that’s already been done, and the work still to [be done], on the FCAS TI programme and are all set for these activities to feed into the Typhoon [fighter aircraft] successor programme.”
“MBDA is proud to be providing its complex weapons expertise for the Team Tempest partner­ship,” stated MBDA UK MD Chris Allam.

“Delivering effects is central to next-genera­tion combat air systems, and we will continue to invest in developing our world-leading com­plex weapons and novel technologies to ensure the UK retains sovereign operational advantage and freedom of action in combat air.”

The US, China, France and Germany (the latter two in a joint project) are known to be, or believed to be, also working on sixth-generation combat aircraft.

Japan and Russia have also expressed interest in doing so.

The US programme seems to have started in earnest in 2012, and the Franco-German project was announced last year, roughly two years after the start of the UK programme.