UK and Japan to jointly develop future fighter jet engine demonstrator
Asia-Pacific, Europe, News December 24, 2021 1 Comment on UK and Japan to jointly develop future fighter jet engine demonstratorThe UK and Japan announced plans to develop a future fighter aircraft engine
The UK and Japan have partnered on the development of a future fighter engine demonstrator to power both the F-X and Tempest manned combat aircraft. Work on the new demonstrator will commence in 2022.
The work will be led by Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and IHI while Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems will lead from the UK.
The UK is investing an initial £30m amount in planning, digital designs and innovative manufacturing developments. It will invest a further £200m for the development of a full-scale demonstrator power system.
The development is a key part of the UK’s Combat Air Strategy called dubbed ‘Tempest’ in which the UK is investing over £2bn in the coming four years.
UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “Strengthening our partnerships in the Indo-Pacific is a strategic priority and this commitment with Japan, one of our closest security partners in Asia, is a clear example of that.”
He added that “Designing a brand-new combat air system with a fighter aircraft at its heart is a highly ambitious project so working with like-minded nations is vital. Building on the technological and industrial strengths of our two countries, we will be exploring a wide-ranging partnership across next-generation combat air technologies.”
UK Defence Procurement Minister Jeremy Quin said that the Japanese “have made enormous progress on technologies that can complement our own advanced skills and could help ensure both our Armed Forces remain at the forefront of military innovation.”
The international partnership remains at the heart of the UK’s approach to combat air under the 2018 Combat Air Strategy.
“This initiative with Japan is a win-win opportunity to develop world-beating power technologies together. Investing and working together with Japan to demonstrate highly advanced engine systems will boost our national industries and design a cutting-edge military capability” according to UK Director Future Combat Air, Richard Bertho
Alex Zino, director of business development and future programs at Rolls-Royce, said: “The joint engine demonstrator program will enable the development of innovative and critical technologies that will be fundamental to the future of the defense aerospace industry.“
UK and Japan fighter jet partnership
Both countries are pursuing programs focused on fielding new-generation fighter jets, under the UK-led Tempest and Japanese F-X programs. The UK and Japan also agreed on a Memorandum of Cooperation which will enable both countries to pursue joint technologies. In the UK, this work will be undertaken by the Team Tempest industry partners including BAE Systems, Italian defense contractor Leonardo, European missile consortium MBDA, and Rolls-Royce.
F-X: The sixth-generation fighter jet F-X is Japan’s first indigenously developed stealth fighter. Japan will spend $48 billion (around 5 trillion yen) on the project, including development and production costs, to build approximately 90 aircraft.
Tempest: The UK’s sixth-generation fighter jet program, Tempest, aims to leapfrog the capabilities of the world’s most advanced fighter jets such as the F-35, F-22, J-20, and Su-57. Tempest is being developed by the U.K., Swedish, and Italian air forces and their respective prime contractors, BAE Systems, SAAB, and Leonardo.
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