A national endeavour
The future of
Combat Air
The UK Combat Air Strategy, launched in 2018, set out a bold vision of future combat air capability for the UK.
It is embodied by Tempest, an international future combat air system that will pioneer new technology, capable of staying ahead of evolving threats, enabled by decades of expertise in a world leading industry.
We’re collaborating internationally to deliver an ambitious military programme for the UK and our partners, whilst investing in people, early careers, technology and infrastructure, supporting the economy and long term prosperity of our nation.
Only Tempest will continue to drive the national security and prosperity benefits of the UK’s Combat Air sector.
Skills
Tempest is one of the UK’s largest ever science and technology endeavours and will ensure the development of world-first technologies continues to flourish. It is a beacon to attract future engineers and a place for young people to build their careers, with more than 2,000 people already employed across UK industry and the Ministry of Defence.
Our passionate and ingenious people are embracing new ways of working and mixing the knowledge of our highly experienced engineers with our young workforce to break new ground. We have attracted more than 1,000 apprentices and graduates across the programme and helped to inspire tens of thousands of schoolchildren to study STEM.
Team Tempest
Team Tempest is a UK partnership that brings together the very best of British industry – BAE Systems, Leonardo UK, Rolls-Royce, MBDA UK, alongside the Ministry of Defence, working in partnership to generate the technologies and experience required for the UK to lead the development of a next generation combat air system.
We have created technologies and undertaken development work in a matter of weeks that would previously have taken years, through the transformation of our businesses and harnessing the capabilities that exist to ensure we retain the UK’s position as a world leader in combat air capability.
Future Combat Air Acquisition Programme
To define and deliver the future combat air capabilities required, the Ministry of Defence initiated an Acquisition Programme alongside the launch of the Combat Air Strategy and Team Tempest in 2018.
Industry supported the MOD to deliver its Outline Business Case to show that we are on track to deliver on the ambition of the Combat Air Strategy. The aim is then for a next generation platform to have an Initial Operating Capability by 2035.
BAE Systems' Combat Air Business
£3.2 billion
Contribution to UK GDP
3,000
Valued supply chain partners
£1.3 billion
Exports
Technology
Our latest technology updates
News
October 2020
Team Tempest
Updates from across the partnership
News
December 2020
October 2020