Here Comes Tempest: The United Kingdom is one step closer to fielding a 6th generation fighter jet after a major funding boost.
The Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) received more than $810 million in funding to move the 6th generation fighter jet project forward.
The funding will go to continue the research and development for the 6th generation fighter jet’s technology.
Money for Technology
The British Ministry of Defense awarded Bae Systems the contract to further develop technology for the Global Combat Air Programme. The program is set to produce Tempest, the U.K.’s 6th generation fighter jet.
In addition to BAE Systems, Leonardo UK, MBDA UK, and Rolls-Royce are also involved in the development of the aircraft.
According to the British Ministry of Defense, the contract will fund more than 60 “cutting-edge technology demonstrations, digital concepts, and new technologies.”
“The next tranche of funding for future combat air will help fuse the combined technologies and expertise we have with our international partners – both in Europe and the Pacific – to deliver this world-leading fighter jet by 2035, protecting our skies for decades to come,” U.K. Minister of Defense Ben Wallace said in a statement.
But the U.K. isn’t the only country involved in the project. In the fall, the U.K. government announced that Italy and Japan would be joining forces on the same project.
“This contract reflects the continued commitment by the UK Government and ensures we continue to mature this significant programme and the vital technology pipeline that will drive innovation into – and beyond – the combat air sector for decades to come,” Herman Claesen, the managing director of Future Combat Air Systems at BAE Systems Air, stated.
The U.K., Italy, and Japan are looking to field an operational 6th generation aircraft by 2035. But that might be too late in the race for the world’s next most advanced fighter jet.
Tempest: The Race to the 6th Generation
The race to the 6th generation fighter jet is well underway. Most global players, including the United States, China, and France, are working on a 6th generation fighter jet.
The U.S. Air Force and Navy are working on the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program that is looking to field an 6th generation fighter jet by 2030.
The country that will be first to field an operational aircraft and manages to produce it in numbers will have a definite advantage both in deterrence and in a potential conflict.
For example, China has invested heavily in developing an Anti-Access/Aerial-Denial (A2/AD) umbrella in the Indo-Pacific, particularly around the South China Sea. With this A2/AD umbrella, the Chinese military is trying to keep the U.S. military and its heavy hitters, such as aircraft carriers, at bay.
Current 5th generation fighter jets, such as the F-35 Lighting II and F-22 Raptor aircraft, have stealth capabilities that can somewhat negate the Chinese A2/AD umbrella. But a 6th generation fighter jet would make it even easier.
So, the race for the 6th generation fighter jet continues.
Expert Biography: A 19FortyFive Defense and National Security Columnist, Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations, a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ), and a Johns Hopkins University graduate. His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
