Beth Stevenson

Italy has become the newest member of the UK’s Tempest sixth-generation fighter program, signing a government-to-government agreement to commit to the development of the aircraft, as well as electing to collaborate with British companies to garner industrial participation. This comes just two months after the <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2019-07-22/britain-and-sweden-partner-future-combat-air-requirements">Swedish government signed</a> a similar agreement to contribute to the UK’s efforts, representing the transition that Tempest has made from a British endeavor to a pan-European one.

 


Tempest’s development is being organized on both government and industrial levels, the latter of which is under the so-called Team Tempest moniker. It involves the UK Ministry of Defence’s Rapid Capabilities Office being teamed with BAE Systems, Leonardo UK, Rolls-Royce, and MBDA to develop the industrial and technological requirements for the program, and a statement of intent signing on September 11 will now lead to Leonardo Italy, Elettronica, Avio Aero, and MBDA Italy joining the cause. This followed the signing of an agreement between the two governments on the previous day, which will result in Italy helping the UK in defining the requirements of this next-generation fighter.

 


<a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2018-07-16/tempest-unleashes-new-uk-combat-aircraft-era">Launched in July 2018</a> during the Farnborough Airshow, the Tempest program fulfils requirements outlined in the UK’s Combat Air Strategy, an initiative that was released in parallel last year. During the launch, the British government and its associated industry communicated that while the project serves to bolster the domestic defense industry capabilities and showcase to the world—and more importantly Europe—that it could develop this alone, it also stressed that it would be seeking partners to participate in Tempest along the way.

 


No small feat, the project has already been allocated £2 billion ($2.48 billion) in funding to develop the requirements, generating jobs across the UK and contributing to the government’s prosperity agenda that aims to bolster economic growth. The announcement regarding Italy’s participation came during the DSEI exhibition being held in London, at which UK&nbsp;defense secretary Ben Wallace praised the collaborative approach to the project.

 


“I’m pleased that we’ve signed a statement of intent with Italy who, alongside Sweden, will support joint working on the Tempest and our future combat air strategy,” he said. “I’m looking forward to working with my Italian and Swedish counterparts, as well as others, to put the Tempest program into hyper-drive and take global Britain into the stratosphere.”

 


Industrial partner MBDA also used DSEI to present further weapons options for Tempest, having already shown a range of deep strike weapons concepts at the <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2019-06-16/mbda-unveils-scaf-weapons-vision">Paris Airshow</a>, which are envisaged for potential use by both the Tempest and the <a href="https://www.ainonline.com/aviation-news/defense/2019-06-17/dassault-airbus-next-gen-fighter-gets-lift-spain">Franco-German-Spanish Next Generation Fighter</a>. Shown at DSEI was a hard-kill defensive aid system (HK-DAS) concept that employs lightweight “Micromissiles” to track, target, and intercept incoming missiles in contested environments. The Micromissile could also form the basis of a precision close air support weapon that could be carried in large numbers. Two more concepts concern within visual range air-to-air missiles (WVRAAMs), loosely based on the ASRAAM weapon. One is a shorter missile intended for tandem carriage within the Tempest’s weapons bay, while another is a longer, larger-caliber weapon with great range and higher performance.

 


Existing weapons such as the Meteor long range air-to-air and Spear precision attack missiles will also be used for the aircraft, the latter of which was shown at the show in an electronic warfare configuration that acts as a stand-in jammer, the result of work between MBDA and Leonardo.

News and developments about airplanes, helicopters and unmanned air vehicles used in all varieties of operations, including airlines, military, business, commercial, general aviation and private.

DSEI 2019: Italy Joins the Tempest Team

The Italian government has followed Sweden in joining the UK-led sixth-generation fighter initiative, while MBDA has unveiled further weapon concepts. 

2024 Corporate Aviation Leadership Summit

Charles Alcock

News and issues concerning the aviation charter and fractional-ownership industries and markets, including company announcements, regulations, new developments and labor issues.

Deal signed in the same week EHang sells 50 autonomous eVTOLs to a Chinese customer

Eve Signs Agreement with eVTOL Air Taxi Partners in Costa Rica

Charlotte Bailey

News about bills, laws, regulations and other governmental decisions affecting aviation and aerospace. Topics include FAA re-authorizations, taxes on fuel and aviation activities, environmental legislation, ICAO decisions, governmental mediation of labor conflicts and World Trade Organization disputes and decisions.

News and issues relating to business, corporate and private aviation, primarily regarding turbine-engine-powered airplanes and helicopters. Subjects include aircraft, engines, maintenance, operations, personnel, acquisitions, accidents, safety, security, and training.

Turkish aerospace company acquires Italian aerospace entities following regulatory approval

Baykar Completes Piaggio Aerospace Acquisition

News and issues about aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO), covering all segments of the aviation industry; and modifications for aircraft and engines. Subjects include product support of aircraft, engines and avionics, MRO company mergers, acquisitions, announcements and personnel, Airworthiness Directives, Supplemental Type Certificate approvals and other topics.

Undisclosed business jet buyer has yet to announce service offering

Mystery Customer Buying Up to 120 Global, Challenger Jets

Dale Smith

News and issues relating to the aerospace industry that are related to the science, engineering and business of flight in space involving civil, industrial and military applications, and similar topics related to flight in the atmosphere of the Earth that are not covered more directly by other AINonline subject channels. In other words, both astronautical and aeronautical subjects, except for those aeronautical topics that are specifically covered elsewhere on this website.

Goodyear Tire & Rubber has operated its fleet of flying ambassadors since 1925

Celebrating the Goodyear Blimp’s 100th Birthday

Issues regarding financing of aircraft; aviation insurance; tax issues for aircraft operators; new companies and people in the aviation financing and insurance industries.

Interim managing director Stefan Benz will take more time to consider long-term options

Decision on EBACE Show’s Future Deferred until Late July

Hanneke Weitering

FlyNYON will offer aerial photography flights on Beta’s Alia 250 eVTOL aircraft

NYC Helitour Operator FlyNYON Orders Beta’s eVTOL Aircraft

News and developments about everything that goes into the cabin of an aircraft, from floor coverings to headliners, with a special emphasis on in-flight entertainment, communications and other electronics for passengers. If it is in the cabin of an aircraft, it’s covered here.

More In Aircraft

Eve Signs Agreement with eVTOL Air Taxi Partners in Costa Rica

Deal signed in the same week EHang sells 50 autonomous eVTOLs to a Chinese customer

Baykar Completes Piaggio Aerospace Acquisition

Turkish aerospace company acquires Italian aerospace entities following regulatory approval

Mystery Customer Buying Up to 120 Global, Challenger Jets

Undisclosed business jet buyer has yet to announce service offering

Celebrating the Goodyear Blimp’s 100th Birthday

Goodyear Tire & Rubber has operated its fleet of flying ambassadors since 1925

Decision on EBACE Show’s Future Deferred until Late July

Interim managing director Stefan Benz will take more time to consider long-term options

NYC Helitour Operator FlyNYON Orders Beta’s eVTOL Aircraft

FlyNYON will offer aerial photography flights on Beta’s Alia 250 eVTOL aircraft

Step Aboard Qatar Executive's Gulfstream G700 Business Jet

Get a glimpse of Qatar's unique interior appointments.

EHang Plans Cold-weather eVTOL Trials in China’s Jilin Province

Jilin signs preliminary purchase agreement for 41 EH216-S aircraft

AIN Products

SUBSCRIPTIONS

RESOURCES

ABOUT AIN