This year’s Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) sixth-generation fighter concept model will be on display for visitors to the UK’s Farnborough Airshow from the UK, Italy, and Japan. The fighter, known as the Tempest, was initially revealed to be in development in December 2022.
The deal states that the aircraft will be developed collaboratively by the three nations, with BAE Systems spearheading the project. According to all sources, the new idea exhibits notable aerodynamic gains over existing aircraft. For instance, its expanded and redesigned delta wing will offer more maneuverability and mission versatility. In order to improve stealth, the air intakes are slanted, and the aircraft’s forward radar signature is decreased by the S-shaped ducting for the engine air inlets located in a conspicuously raised area front of the v-shaped tail.
The jet engine being developed by Rolls Royce has several enhancements, including improved exhausts for lower heat and radar signatures. It has 10 times more electrical power output than current combat aircraft engines, enabling it to power directed energy weapons like lasers. The engine features an integrated electrical starter generator embedded in the engine core, saving space and eliminating the need for an external gearbox. “In the 18 months since the launch of the Global Combat Air Programme, we’ve been working closely with our industrial partners in Italy and Japan under the collaboration agreement, and also with the three governments, to understand and align requirements for a next-generation combat aircraft,” said Herman Claesen, Managing Director, Future Combat Air Systems, BAE Systems. “The new model unveiled at Farnborough International Airshow shows notable progress in the design and conception of this future fighter jet. We’ll continue to test and evolve the design, as we move closer towards the next phase of the program,” he added. The Tempest is being developed by a consortium including BAE Systems Military Air & Information, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and Leonardo S.p.A.
The aircraft will feature an augmented reality cockpit with a minimal number of physical controls and readouts. Instead, the pilot’s visor will project virtual instruments and controls onto surfaces. The aircraft will also heavily rely on artificial intelligence, which can learn from its pilot. This will enable the pilot-optional operation and allow the advanced computer system to network with other platforms and handle many duties, freeing the pilot to act as the mission commander. It also helps that Leonardo’s radar is a powerful next-generation system capable of delivering 10,000 times more data than current systems.
There have been no promises made regarding future funding for the project, therefore there are doubts about its ability to proceed in light of the recent change in UK administration. Originally, the Tempest was supposed to make its first flight in 2027 and be in use by the Italian Air Force, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, and the Royal Air Force by 2035. Nonetheless, the aircraft’s attendance at the Farnborough Airshow makes it quite clear that the partners are giving the export market serious thought.
“GCAP is a strategically important partnership, bringing together the governments of the UK, Italy, and Japan, and their respective industries, to collaborate on shared military and industrial objectives in the delivery of a next-generation combat air capability,” BAE Systems explained in a press release.