London accelerates development of its future sixth-generation fighter by injecting funds into GCAP program

An allocation of £656 million (approximately $814 million) will propel the GCAP program for sixth-generation fighter aircraft into the next phase, focused on technology maturation.

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Under the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) – a trilateral collaboration with Japan and Italy to develop the next generation of fighter aircraft – the UK Ministry of Defense (MoD) awarded the major contract to BAE Systems, on behalf of UK defense companies Leonardo UK, MBDA UK and Rolls-Royce, to progress the design and development of the Tempest, which is the UK name for the aircraft being developed under GCAP.

While no details were given on the scope of the £656 million contract, they are likely to be to accelerate and mature new disruptive technologies such as those developed in the JAGUAR program (universal radio frequency sensor technology), as well as artificial intelligence, virtual and augmented reality, Human-Machine interfaces for partnership with Loyal Wingam-type drones, sixth-generation motorization, and so on. These essential elements will contribute to defining, with Japan and Italy, the final requirements of the combat air platform that will enter service in 2035.

UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace stated:

«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».

This investment is part of the more than £2 billion that the UK government will commit to the project until May 2025, announced in the 2021 Defense Command Document.

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The future sixth-generation aircraft is designed to be an innovative stealth fighter with supersonic capability and equipped with cutting-edge technologies, including state-of-the-art detection and protection capabilities. This will make the aircraft one of the most advanced, interoperable, adaptable and connected in-service fighters in the world.