The race against time has begun to develop the first European sixth-generation aircraft that will replace the Rafale and Eurofighter Typhoon in just over a decade. Against Scaf, the Tempest for which the United Kingdom has just announced a budget of 650 million pounds (742 million euros) to launch the program.
Another tranche of funding should make it possible “to merge the combined technologies and experience of international partners in Europe and the Pacific”, specifies the Ministry of Defense.
Strategic agreement with Microsoft
The Tempest is the aircraft of the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) developed by the United Kingdom and Italy with Japan. BAE Systems, Leonardo and Rolls Royce ensure that the device will be operational from 2035. Like the Scaf (air combat system of the future), this program is based on an aircraft connected to a combat cloud and drones.
The digital part could be carried out by Microsoft, which has signed a strategic agreement with BAE Systems. This partnership aims to develop “digital defense capabilities” based on the Azure Cloud platform.
The United Kingdom has as partners Italy and Japan who have not yet announced the amount allocated to GCAP. Sweden was to enter the program with Saab, maker of the Gripen, but ultimately backed out despite signing a memorandum of understanding in 2021.
Homework distributions
In December tensions had arisen between Rome and London. Italian Defense Minister Guido Crosetto, co-founder of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party, expressed concern about Italy’s role in the Tempest program and called for unity with the other two countries. He presented the final decision on the amount to invest only when the equitable distribution of tasks was defined.
For its part, Tokyo has not specified the industrial quota it intends to contribute either. The Japan Air Self Defense Force (JAFAF) uses US, F-15 and F-35 fighter jets.
Faced with the Tempest, the NGF (Next Generation Fighter) of the Scaf (Future Air Combat System) program is already on the starting grid. This program piloted by Dassault Aviation and Airbus Defense & Space entered its industrial phase just a month ago.
With Thales, Safran or even MBDA, these companies are working on the development of the fighter, the drones and the combat system. France, Germany and Spain have assigned a budget of 3,600 million until 2025 for this study phase that will allow the development of a demonstrator in 2027/2028.
Source: BFM TV
