UK awards $800 million contract to BAE systems for next-generation fighter jet

Europe, News April 19, 2023 , by IRIA No Comments

Britain’s Ministry of Defense announced an allocation of more than $800 million (£656 million) in funds to boost development progress for its fighter jet program. Britain’s BAE Systems is the major contractor in UK’s joint program with Japan and Italy.

The three countries are working together under the Global Combat Air Program (GCAP) to develop the sixth-generation Tempest fighter jet. It is Japan’s first international defense collaboration beyond the United States after World War II. The next-generation fighter jets are due to enter the service by 2035.

The latest funding of $800 million would be allocated to continue the development of next-generation fighter jets. According to the statement released by BAE Systems, the new funding will build on the ground-breaking science, research, and engineering already completed under the first phase of the contract delivered by UK Tempest partners BAE Systems. Apart from BAE Systems, several other contractors are working on the program including Leonardo UK, MBDA UK, and Rolls-Royce.

While speaking about the multi-million-dollar award, UK’s Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace said that “the next tranche of funding for future combat air will help fuse the combined technologies and expertise we have with our international partners, both in Europe and the Pacific, to deliver this world-leading fighter jet by 2035, protecting our skies for decades to come.”

The Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) was first unveiled in December 2022 when British Prime Minster Rishi Sunak announced a collaboration with Italy, and Japan to develop the sixth-generation fighter jet that would incorporate high-tech armaments and artificial intelligence.

GCAP plans to merge Japan’s F-X fighter jet development program and the British-led Future Combat Air System project, also known as the Tempest jet program into a single venture. Britain’s BAE Systems, Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and Italy’s Leonardo will lead the design of the aircraft.

*^{UK Royal Air Force’s next-generation combat aircraft Tempest. (Image Credit: UK RAF)}*

The sixth-generation fighter jet program 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. After completion, the Tempest fighter jet would be used by the U.K., Swedish, and Italian air forces as the primary aerial asset while Japan would incorporate its own version, the F-X fighter jet, into its aerial fleet.

Fast-paced development for the next-generation fighter jet comes at a time when Europe is facing a security challenge from Russia while Japan is struggling to keep up with China’s increasing military influence in the Indo-Pacific region along with North Korea’s increasing attacking capabilities.