Key Points and Summary – The United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan are jointly developing the Tempest, a sixth-generation stealth fighter designed for long-range strike missions.
-Set to enter service by 2035, the large aircraft is projected to carry twice the payload of an F-35.
-It will serve as a crewed “quarterback” in a networked battlespace, capable of controlling unmanned drones even in communications-denied environments.
-A primary focus of the design is its extended operational range, which experts state will allow the Tempest to fly from the UK to strike targets deep inside Russia with fewer refueling needs.
UK’s Tempest 6th Generation Fighter: Also a Stealthy, Long Range Bomber?
The UK Tempest, as it has been named, is a joint project between the UK, Italy, and Japan, and is expected to come into service for the UK’s Royal Air Force by 2035 under the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP), The Telegraph noted.
The Tempest looks remarkably like the US F-35, save for a few minor differences.
The plan is to have the aircraft flying by 2027 and operational by 2035. Two-thirds of the aircraft’s structural weight is now in manufacturing, including the wings and tails.
UK’s First Crewed Combat Demonstrator Aircraft in Four Decades
Tony Godbold, Future Combat Air Systems Delivery Director, BAE Systems, said, “This significant and challenging project will deliver the UK’s first crewed combat demonstrator aircraft in four decades. The program is accelerating the development of advanced design approaches and manufacturing techniques, helping to sharpen the UK’s industrial edge and deliver benefits beyond the production of the aircraft.
“As well as developing a unique aircraft, we’re building the technical foundations, workforce readiness, and digital maturity essential to deliver the next generation of combat air capability,”
Tempest Fighter Simulator Has Arrived
Test pilots from BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, and the Royal Air Force (RAF) have now flown more than 300 hours of the Combat Air Flying Demonstrator in a simulator.
Using simulated flight trials, pilots and engineers can rapidly assess the flight control systems during more complex flight maneuvers, capturing crucial data about how the jet will handle and perform, years before its first flight.
One significant difference will be the powerplant, with the Combat Air Flying Demonstrator using the same EJ200 turbofan engines as the Eurofighter Typhoon. The production Tempest will feature an all-new powerplant that is now under development.
The Tempest Will Have A Bigger Payload And Longer Range
The UK Tempest will have roughly twice the payload of an F-35A.
It’s unclear how this would be broken down in terms of fuel and weapons, but just in terms of internal and external ordnance, for the F-35A, this equates to more than 18,000 pounds, according to the manufacturer.
The Tempest will be part of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program. This wide-ranging air combat initiative also includes next-generation weapons, uncrewed platforms, networks, data sharing, and more.
British test pilots describe the Tempest as a “quarterback,” or refers to the ability to control uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCAs) and/or other drones, as well as networked weapons.
The Tempest will be about 19 meters in length. By comparison, the Eurofighter Typhoon, which the Tempest will replace, is 15.96 meters long, and the US’s F-35B is 15.6 meters long. That extra space will be used for internal bay storage of weapons, fuel, and sensors for the “quarterback” role envisioned.
A Design That Is Evolving
Jonny Moreton, a retired RAF air commodore, currently employed by British defense manufacturer BAE Systems, was showing off the mockup at a warehouse and said, “This won’t be the final shape and size, but, in terms of scale, it’s about the same. Whatever GCAP as a core platform is going to be … she is going to be big.”
Moreton didn’t get into specifics; however, he did note that air forces must be able to operate “at ranges that previously we’ve been unable to do,” adding that “You need to be able to get there safely, undetected and return home.”
“We need to be able to operate at range, where our communications might be disrupted,” Moreton said.
“Therefore, we need to make sure we have a core platform that’s crewed, that’s in a position that it can be the heart of the network if we’re unable to communicate back to home base for operations. It needs to be able to operate in an isolated environment,” he added.
It Can Hit Russia From the UK: The Tempest Bomber?
The Telegraph quoted aviation experts who state that this means it could take off from a UK airfield, fly undetected to Russia, destroy Russian air defenses, and return to the UK in the event of a NATO war with Russia, without as many in-flight refueling operations.
It would also allow Japanese pilots to conduct operations deep into China in any future Pacific conflict, the experts added.
About the Author: Steve Balestrieri
Steve Balestrieri is a National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing on defense, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in many military publications.
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