GCAP Tempest

This year’s Farnborough Airshow in the UK will feature a full-scale model of one of the world’s emerging fighter programs. The Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) sixth-generation fighter called the Tempest is a joint collaboration between the United Kingdom, Italy and Japan to produce a sixth-generation fighter to compete with the United States (NGAD) program. It’s one of several ongoing projects across the world to produce sixth-generation fighters.

The Tempest aims to become one of the most advanced combat aircrafts by 2035 and could see its first maiden flight as early as 2027 if things go as planned. According to Britain-based BAE Systems, the aircraft will feature an intelligent weapons system, a software-driven interactive cockpit, integrated sensors, and a next-generation radar capable of processing 10,000 times more data than current systems. The aircraft will be powered by a new Rolls-Royce jet engine that produces a tenfold increase in electrical power output compared to current models.

The new engine will power directed energy weapons, including lasers, and the engine’s exhaust system will generate a lower heat signature to reduce radar visibility. Tempest will feature an augmented reality cockpit with minimal physical controls, where virtual instruments powered by artificial intelligence systems will predominate. The future of the Tempest project remains uncertain with the development phase fraught with major challenges including budget constraints and shifting political landscapes.