Next-Gen Jet: U.K. Fighter Program Edges Closer to Runway.

• Author: Roaten, Meredith
• Position: AIR POWER

FARNBOROUGH, United Kingdom--The announcement of the Tempest jet fighter program took Europe by storm at the last Farnborough Air Show four years ago. Now, the program has its sights set on a new demonstrator and international partnerships that officials hope will make the fleet ready for future fights.

The U.K. Ministry of Defence announced at this year's airshow that the next-generation flight demonstrator for the Tempest Future Combat Air System, or FCAS, will fly in 2027. Defense companies also revealed more details on what technologies they're building and testing for the final product.

The program envisions a sixth-generation fighter jet that could operate crewed or uncrewed and control several smaller drones known as swarms. The demonstrator aims to test new technologies that could be included on the eventual fighter jet, including the integration of "stealth compatible features," according to the Ministry of Defence.

In addition to testing technologies, the supersonic demonstrator will showcase and test skills, tools, processes and techniques developers will use to get the next-gen jet off the runway by 2035.

In addition to the new demonstrator, U.K. officials used the air show to tout a new partnership with Japan. Japan's F-X fighter jet program--led by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries--will share and learn alongside the Tempest fighter jet to optimize both programs.

Richard Berthon, the Ministry of Defence's director for future combat air, said it's been 120 years since the armed forces have signed a cooperation treaty with Japan.

The extent of Japanese collaboration is still undecided, he said. Nevertheless, the working relationship is on track, he said.

"I think that the extent of the alignment we've found with the military on the engineering side is fantastic. We feel a real sense of shared mission with shared values and shared opportunity, and it's very exciting," Berthon said.

U.K. Minister of Defence Ben Wallace touted the "cutting-edge" technology collaboration with Japan and European partner Italy as a standout benefit of the U.K. alliances around the world, he said in a statement.

The United Kingdom had kicked off Tempest development about the same time that Japan announced its F-X stealth fighter so cooperation seemed like a "natural partnership," said Dan Darling, senior Europe and Asia, Australia and Pacific Rim analyst at Forecast International.

"It just made a lot of sense to partner with them and share innovations," he...