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Mark Ayton Spoke with Leaders of the Tempest Programme to Gain a Top-Level Explanation and Outlook of the Ukʼs Multi-Billion Future fi Ghter

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Mark Ayton Spoke with Leaders of the Tempest Programme to Gain a Top-Level Explanation and Outlook of the Ukʼs Multi-Billion Future fi Ghter TEMPEST PROGRAMME LEADERS TEMPEST: Mark Ayton spoke with leaders of the Tempest programme to gain a top-level explanation and outlook of the UKʼs multi-billion future fi ghter. Parallel alignment of edges is an essential design requirement for stealthy aircraft and are clearly shown in this angle of a Tempest mock-up. All images BAE Systems 70 WWW.KEY.AERO PROGRAMME LEADERS spoke with leaders of the Tempest programme to gain a top-level explanation and outlook of the UK’s multi-billion futu re fighter. WWW.KEY.AERO 71 TEMPEST PROGRAMME LEADERS and repeat that 10 years later with an improved variant? Responding, Richard Berthon views that to be at the heart of the approach being taken. He said: “First, we are thinking in terms of an overall combat air system. It’s important to understand that we have not yet decided on the right balance within that combat air system. It will have a fi ghter aircra , but it might also consist of a range of other functions. Particularly important are networks and information systems that underpin the fi ghter aircra . It may also include other air vehicles including an unmanned air vehicle operating as an adjunct [loyal wingman] to the fi ghter. During the next three-and-a-half years, we will be defi ning what the system looks like, A close-up shot of the Tempest how we deliver the system by 2035 and how fi ghter mock-up on display we incrementally develop the system to keep at the 2018 Farnborough it at the cutting edge of capability over several International Airshow. decades. “Digital development and open systems f there was competition for the most term- the UK and its ability to preserve the combat architecture should provide the agility ridden defence programme in the English- edge, industrial and technological base. Only required to deliver on time. e Formula 1 speaking world today, the UK’s Tempest countries that can do that, can really claim to industry uses a concept known as the working project would win the gold medal. be a serious military player. It’s that important prototype. Essentially, the car is never fi nished, I Tempest is many loosely defi ned things: as a military capability and is internationally but perpetually developed and upgraded. e a programme, a technology initiative, a strategic; we have always participated in concept provides a degree of constant agility system of systems, an aircra , an air vehicle coalition operations and will continue to do and ensures that at any given time we will be and more. e Royal Air Force uses the term so. It’s hugely important for jobs across the UK able to keep the system at the cutting edge Combat Air when referring to its frontline not just in terms of the numbers of jobs but and outpace threats over many years through aircra . Not a term that earns many gold stars the skill sets for preserving the technological so ware upgrades, open system architecture, with the author so imagine how he perceives edge necessary for the future, and ultimately the benefi ts of digital systems engineering.” Future Combat Air System (FCAS) as the the UK’s combat air strategy doctrine, recently In February, US Air Force Chief of Staff title for the UK’s multi-billion pound, sixth- reinforced by the prime minister in the General CQ Brown Jr launched the TacAir generation programme? e programme gained integrated review. e UK intends to remain Study, one designed to evaluate the tactical the Team Tempest brand back in 2018, when at the top table, and we retain the ambition aviation force mix required to meet near and initially launched as part of a research and and the commitment to play a leading role in long-term needs. e study will impact on development programme through the FCAS combat air.” procurement decisions and is likely to lead to Technology Initiative. Ever since its launch at e author asked Richard Berthon if the new fi ghter aircra digitally designed for spiral that year’s Farnborough International Airshow construct of the programme is to develop and development and produced in accordance with the nascent fi ghter has been referred to simply build a given number of fi ghter jets very quickly, the digital century series concept fi rst touted as Tempest. Years from gaining an offi cial name, by former US Air Force acquisition chief Will woe betide any senior RAF offi cer of the day Roper. e UK’s Tempest programme is laced who nominates an alternative. at’s unlikely “Over 2,000 with the hallmarks required to follow a similar to happen. Tempest has oodles of provenance government and path. for the Royal Air Force based on the Hawker When the author asked Richard Berthon Tempest which entered RAF service in 1944. industry personnel are about the likelihood of something similar for An aircra that wreaked havoc on Nazi railway the UK, he said his department is in discussion lines and infrastructure throughout the allied now working on the with the US Air Force about the approach it is advance on and liberation of Germany from Tempest programme” taking. He said: “We’re following a UK focused Nazi tyranny. e Hawker Tempest was an approach which is almost certainly diff erent improved version of the Hawker Typhoon. from how the Americans end up implementing By 2035 the fi rst Tempest fi ghter is expected to enter RAF service, some 77 years a er its forerunner namesake. No better name for the current Typhoon’s successor. National Sovereignty Tempest is more than just a fi ghter jet programme. It is a way of addressing a range of military threats that will increase in capability and proliferate and over the next few decades. Specifi cally, when Tempest enters RAF service it will assume the operational control-of-the-air mission and replace the Typhoon, the current incumbent. But the UK’s future combat air system must provide a wider range of military functions than that. According to the Ministry of Defence’s director for future combat air, Richard Berthon it is also an act of national sovereignty. He said: “Our approach to FCAS set out in the The digital thread runs 2018 Combat Air Strategy stated that combat throughout the Tempest air is a military capability fundamental for enterprise. 72 WWW.KEY.AERO it, but it’s based on very similar principles of enterprise within an international partnership ensuring the programme remains on track thinking about combat air capabilities across all combining an underpinning philosophy, digital for delivering aircra from 2035. He also has generations of the fl eet. FCAS is also leveraging engineering, skilled people, a diff erent approach responsibility for establishing the international opportunities of rapid and almost continuous to Ministry of Defence acquisition, and agility partnership. upgrades. e Americans may decide to follow to rapidly develop a product or upgrade, then During the impending concept and a century series approach: they are still thinking we will have an enterprise that can actually assessment phase, Air Cdre Moreton will lead about how to implement it and make it real. deliver that.” the teams tasked with understanding three We’re using similar principles, but the end state key aspects; technologies that could be used may look quite diff erent due to the UK’s very Concept and Assessment to provide capabilities required by the RAF: diff erent circumstances.” Air Commodore Jonny Moreton is head of which areas require additional investment and Berthon confi rmed his focus is on developing the FCAS acquisition programme. He is which areas need to be expedited. To close-up what he calls a sixth-generation combat responsible for establishing and starting the this process, dates based on capability levels and air enterprise. “If we can set-up a national concept development phase and ultimately costs must form part of the plan. This underside front shot of a Tempest mock-up shows the forward fuselage form and the change in the cross-section profi le dubbed the chine. WWW.KEY.AERO 73 TEMPEST PROGRAMME LEADERS Most of these activities carry risk, not least conducting conversations with the Japanese against the timeline which is the challenge. government, which has a similar level of Gripen E is a successful example of rapidly ambition in terms of capability and resource. developing capabilities focused on technologies. He said: “ e Japanese timeline is similar year Moreton said the programme wants to advance for year to the UK’s and they are interested in capability development as far to the right looking to partners that will assure freedom of of the timeline as is possible, but to do so modifi cation.” without taking too many risks that disrupt e Swedish, Italian and Japanese progress toward achieving the 2035 end date. governments are all involving their respective Explaining, he said: “We are evaluating how ministries of defence and their defence we spiral develop technologies today, such that companies. From a UK perspective government any decision we make about technology we personnel are now embedded in defence know we have a path to spiral development companies, a move that will be repeated with to the future. at will put us in a position Sweden, Italy, and Japan. Air Cdre Moreton where we can maintain pace with the ongoing explained: “We’re trying to inculcate industry proliferation of threats. It’s important that and government inside the verifi cation process we not only focus on the technology, but to enable us to make decisions rapidly and also on the ability to enhance, upgrade and empower individuals to make decisions quickly.
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