Tempest is the RAF’s next generation combat aircraft, coming into service from 2035 to replace the Typhoon.
Team Tempest and the Royal Air Force recently held a virtual event to provide an update about the development opportunities of the new sixth-generation aircraft to industry and government representatives from Northern Ireland, the first of a series of events to engage with industries across the UK. Within the press release, there are also some new renderings of the aircraft which, we have to note, is not in its final shape as it’s being designed “from the inside out” and the airframe’s exterior design may change to reflect changes in the internal systems.
According to the press release, more than 70 key industry and Government representatives from across Northern Ireland have engaged with Team Tempest and the Royal Air Force on opportunities to help develop the UK’s next generation of combat air technologies.
The RAF Rapid Capabilities Office and core Team Tempest Industry Partners (BAE Systems, Rolls Royce, Leonardo, and MBDA) hosted a virtual briefing session to provide a detailed understanding of the work ongoing across the Tempest endeavor and the wider UK Combat Air Sector. Participation at the event also included Tempest partners Thales and Spirit AeroSystems, both of who have major bases in Northern Ireland.
Delegates heard from Air Chief Marshal Sir Michael Wigston and other RAF senior leaders who highlighted how Team Tempest is taking a revolutionary approach to partnership, engaging with a wide range of leading companies, SMEs, and academia to bring leading innovators into the endeavor and ensure the UK remains at the leading edge of Combat Air systems development. The RAF Capability leadership team highlighted updates in emerging strategy and identified examples of innovation and future opportunities.
Key members from the Team Tempest industry partner community also provided attendees with updates on the program and explained how Tempest is working in radical ways to develop world-leading capability, with a focus on affordability and efficiency.
Earlier this year, Team Tempest announced a further seven companies have signed collaborative agreements to work on some of the game-changing technologies being developed across the partnership. The agreements demonstrated how Team Tempest is transforming traditional relationships with partners and widening the endeavour to bring in the very best of UK capability and expertise from both inside and outside of defense. There are currently more than 600 organizations delivering across Tempest, including SMEs and academia.
The Team Tempest programme plans to continue engaging across the UK, commencing with this event in Northern Ireland, building relationships across the nation which aim to deliver national economic prosperity benefits and contribute to national productivity, providing follow on benefits for wider Defence and other sectors in the UK economy.
The event was coordinated with the assistance of the aerospace, defense, security, and space trade body ADS.
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