The Integrated Review and Defence Command Paper released by the government set out the importance of the programme to global security and UK prosperity, which is why the UK will invest over the next four years to move into the next phase to design and deliver the next-generation system.
The work will sustain and support a sector which already generates £6 billion a year and employs over 46,000 people across the UK.
The sector and the broader UK defence industry is set to be boosted by the new Defence Industrial and Security Strategy, which will ensure that the UK retains a competitive, innovative and world-class defence and security industry.
Speaking at RUSI’s Combat Air Power conference, defence minister Jeremy Quin said: “As our recently published Integrated Review underlined, technology and the threats we are facing have moved on. In the intervening decades, the likes of Russia and China have studied our strengths in the air and begun developing the capabilities to not only counter but surpass us. If we fail to outmatch these targets and they continue at this pace, we could find ourselves locked out of the skies. The freedom of the air cannot be taken for granted.”
The MoD’s director of Future Combat Air, Richard Berthon, said: “Combat air is vital to the protection of the UK and our contribution to global security. The Integrated Review shows the UK’s commitment to staying at the cutting edge of future Combat Air technologies.
“We are working closely with industry and international partners to launch the next phase of delivering the Tempest concept. This is an exciting milestone as we seize the opportunities created by digital design and delivery to revolutionise combat air delivery and preserve our operational advantage for decades to come.”
Elements of Tempest will connect to provide a combat air system for the rest of the 21st century. A core aircraft will likely form one element of a network of capabilities which could include long-range weapons, space-based sensors and supporting uncrewed aircraft.
The UK is now launching the concept and assessment phase to design and deliver Tempest with its partners – this will accelerate analysis and set out how to deliver the project. The programme is targeting Initial Operating Capability from 2035 so that, over time, the system can replace Typhoon as it reaches the end of its service life.
MoD www.gov.uk/mod