The UK’s sovereign defense industry collaborators, unified under Team Tempest, will bolster the significant initiative unveiled today by the governments of the UK, Japan, and Italy. This collaboration will establish a genuinely international program with a collective aim to create a next-generation fighter aircraft through a new Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).
This collaborative declaration highlights the robust governmental, military, and industrial connections among the nations and strengthens the UK’s global dedication to future combat air capabilities. The program will expand on the considerable advancements already achieved in the UK by BAE Systems, Leonardo UK, MBDA UK, Rolls-Royce, and the Ministry of Defence, who have partnered since 2018 as Team Tempest to investigate, assess, and develop a variety of next-generation combat air system capabilities.
The Prime Minister stated: “The safety of the United Kingdom, both now and for future generations, remains of utmost significance to this Government. That’s why we must remain at the forefront of innovations in defense technology – outstripping and outmaneuvering those who intend to do us harm. The international collaboration announced today with Italy and Japan aims to achieve just that, emphasizing that the security of the Euro-Atlantic and Indo-Pacific regions are interwoven. The next-generation combat aircraft we design will safeguard us and our allies globally by leveraging the strength of our world-class defense industry – fostering employment while preserving lives.”
Charles Woodburn, Chief Executive of BAE Systems, remarked: “The initiation of the Global Combat Air Programme firmly positions the UK, alongside Japan and Italy, as frontrunners in the design, development, and production of next-generation combat air capabilities. Together with our UK industrial partners, we eagerly anticipate fortifying our relations with Japanese and Italian industries as we collaborate to realize this program of immense significance to our global defense and security. The partnership with Japan and Italy is crucial to achieving the objectives outlined in the UK Combat Air Strategy, set to create and maintain thousands of high-value jobs, benefiting numerous firms across the UK and contributing to long-standing economic prosperity and securing sovereign combat air capabilities for future generations.”
Mark Hamilton, Managing Director Electronics UK at Leonardo, noted: “The formation of a unified international program, supported by three governments, signifies a pivotal moment in the maturation of our shared combat air vision and a solid affirmation of the industry’s readiness to execute the program. At Leonardo, we are honored to be a key participant in this venture. The future aircraft’s integrated sensing, non-kinetic effects, and integrated communications (ISANKE & ICS) will be central to the system’s capabilities, ensuring that our Armed Forces can efficiently confront future threats. We anticipate collaborating with our international counterparts to deliver this vital capability.”
Chris Allam, Executive Group Director of Engineering at MBDA and Managing Director UK, expressed: “Today’s announcement marks a crucial advancement in the internationalization of the Combat Air System Programme, which will incite a fundamental enhancement in future capabilities and support the preservation and development of critical skills within the defense industry. MBDA was established with the belief of nations cooperating to achieve sovereign capabilities, harnessing innovation and driving economic benefits. We have a proud history of collaboration with Italy and eagerly welcome the chance to deepen our partnership with Japan. We will join forces with multinational industrial allies to facilitate seamless integration, rapid evolution, and networking of effectors, making any platform, any sensor, and any effector a reality.”
Alex Zino, Executive Vice President of Business Development and Future Programmes at Rolls-Royce Defence, stated: “We welcome today’s announcement and the positive progress we are cultivating with our partners in Japan and Italy towards developing power and propulsion technologies for the next-generation fighter aircraft. In December 2021, we set a target to co-design, construct, and test an engine demonstrator. This work is advancing efficiently and on schedule for delivery. Today’s announcement reinforces the strong and enduring relationships we cherish with both Italy and Japan, and I look forward to enhancing that collaboration through this program.”
The UK’s combat air sector not only bolsters national defense and security, but the £6bn-a-year industry also delivers significant economic and societal value. The GCAP could secure or generate thousands of UK jobs while maintaining priceless combat air engineering skills domestically for an additional generation. A report released last year by analysts at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) concluded that if the UK plays a central role in a next-generation fighter jet initiative, it could anticipate supporting an average of 21,000 jobs annually and contributing an estimated £26.2bn to the economy by 2050.
In the UK, approximately 2,500 individuals are already engaged in the program as part of Team Tempest and the broader industry. Outside of the Team Tempest partners, over 580 organizations are already under contract across the UK, including 91 SMEs and 26 academic institutions. The Team Tempest partners have onboarded more than 1,000 apprentices and graduates since the project commenced in 2018, with youths across the nation motivated by the opportunity to be involved in a once-in-a-generation combat air initiative.
The UK industry partners have already established strong collaborative relationships with their counterparts in Italy and Japan, which will evolve into the new joint development. These include IHI Corporation, Mitsubishi Electric, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Japan and Avio Aero, Elettronica, and Leonardo in Italy.
It is anticipated that GCAP will yield long-term technological, industrial, and social advantages for the three partner nations and inspire the next generation of engineering talent.
