The United Kingdom’s leading defense industry partners have announced that manufacturing and assembly of the main structure for the country’s first crewed combat air demonstrator in a generation are now underway.
According to a press release from BAE Systems, this milestone marks a significant step in developing a new piloted supersonic aircraft aimed at testing a variety of advanced technologies.
BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, MBDA UK, and the UK Ministry of Defence are collaborating on this project, which includes integrating stealth-compatible features. The aircraft is scheduled to take its maiden flight within the next three years.
First announced by the UK Government in July 2022, the project has already seen substantial progress, with over half of the aircraft’s weight, including the fuselage and wings, currently in build. This advancement is credited to the UK’s world-class defense industry and the application of innovative digital techniques and transformative processes such as advanced manufacturing technologies, virtual simulators, and digital rigs.
Paul Wilde, Head of Tempest at BAE Systems, emphasized the importance of the demonstrator in developing national skills and advanced technology. “The flying technology demonstrator is a vital initiative for ensuring the UK remains a world leader in the design, production, testing, and certification of combat aircraft,” Wilde said. “Partnering with around 100 UK suppliers, including our Team Tempest partners, we are combining engineering expertise with innovative methods to enhance and refresh crucial industrial skills.”
Air Commodore Martin Lowe, Future Combat Air Systems Director at the UK Ministry of Defence, highlighted the rapid progress made through collaboration between the MoD and industry. “The demonstrator is helping us understand more about the advanced technology required to deliver a sixth-generation fighter jet,” Lowe stated. “The progress we have made together in such a short space of time has been remarkable.”
Experts from BAE Systems are employing additive manufacturing processes and technologies, such as 3D printing, to develop significant structural parts of the aircraft more quickly and cost-effectively. The use of Hot Isostatic Press (HIP) technology, which applies extreme heat and pressure to create solid metal parts in any required shape, reduces manufacturing time and material waste.
Test pilots from BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, and the Royal Air Force (RAF) have already logged more than 215 hours of simulated flights, providing crucial data to support the aircraft’s design and upcoming flight trials. Digital simulators and rigs are also being used to test cockpit conditions, such as heating, cooling, and oxygen supply for pilots.
MBDA UK is working with BAE Systems to trial digital weapon integration processes, aiming to reduce the time and cost associated with weapons integration through test and evaluation. This collaborative approach is showing promising early results.
Rolls-Royce is set to deliver two EJ200 engines for the flying demonstrator following successful integration testing last year. These engines, provided by the UK Ministry of Defence, will be delivered to BAE Systems within the next 12 months.
The Tempest program, part of the Global Combat Air Programme, is a collaboration between the UK, Italy, and Japan.