Six years on from the launch of Team Tempest at Farnborough International Air Show in 2018, this year’s air show played host to the Global Combat Air Programme – the transformational partnership between the UK, Italy and Japan to design, develop and deliver a next generation combat aircraft.

Exhibiting at the show together for the first time, the three nations of the trilateral endeavour unveiled a new concept model reflecting the significant progress in the design of this future fighter jet.

Future Horizons was on hand to speak with the Business Development Leads from the Team Tempest partners – the UK industry partners on GCAP -  to discuss the reactions of visitors, the progress in the delivery of the aircraft, and the role of events like Farnborough in highlighting the benefits of the programme and inspiring future generations of aviators and engineers. 

Joining the podcast for this episode were:

• BAE Systems Business Development Director – Future Combat Air Systems

We were also delighted to welcome to the episode, the FCAS Chief Engineer for the Royal Air Force ahead of starting their new post as Commandant of the Defence School of Aeronautical Engineering at RAF Cosford. 

Enjoy!

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In a recent report by Engineering UK, the charity recorded a “small but significant” decline in the number of women working in engineering and technology roles, particularly in the 35-44 age range.

Published just a few weeks ahead of INWED 2024, this report highlights the challenge of increasing the number of women choosing engineering careers. Strategic national programmes such as Team Tempest have identified diversity in engineering as a major factor in ensuring the delivery of innovative capability.

Joining host Zevi Watmough to discuss their experiences as engineers and their roles developing the UK’s next-generation of combat air system are:

• Sarah a Degree Apprentice Engineer at BAE Systems,

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An essential pillar of the Team Tempest programme is capturing the imagination of the next generation of engineers and aviators, The Tempest Early Careers Network (TECN) wants to inspire those at the start of their careers as well as people who are embarking on their secondary education. They'll become the leaders of the programme in the future as the systems come into service in 2035.

In this episode we speak to TECN members working on Tempest who discuss their roles, what motivated them to work on the programme, how TECN is helping to strengthen the transformative collaboration that is delivering team Tempest and their hopes for the future of the network.

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Delivering a sixth-generation fighter jet by 2035 is an ambitious goal which will require Team Tempest to utilise the full power of digitisation.

In this episode we explore the role that digitisation will play in developing a new fighter jet in half the time compared to previous generations of aircraft. We’ll assess cultural assumptions about the risks of new digital capabilities and discuss how these could unlock huge gains in performance.

Discussing this fascinating subject with host Zevi Watmough are: 

• Future Combat Air System Chief Technologist for Mission Systems & Information,
  

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In February 2024, Team Tempest published the Future Combat Air System Sustainability Strategy, which outlined the changes needed to drive a more sustainable and resilient future for the programme.

The strategy represents the start of a journey to position FCAS as a successful example of the UK defence industry’s ability to produce a highly sustainable capability.

Joining host Zevi Watmough to discuss the Strategy and its importance to the programme and the wider defence sector are:

• Rolls-Royce Sustainability Lead, Alice

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In this latest episode of Future Horizons, we look at how Team Tempest is working with a dynamic supply chain to deliver a flying combat air demonstrator that will test crucial technologies needed for Tempest, before the next generation fighter jet takes to the skies in 2035.

To help us learn more about how the demonstrator is creating opportunities and benefits for the UK, we are joined by:

• Head of Tempest & Combat Vehicles, BAE Systems, Paul

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An essential pillar of the team Tempest programme is capturing the imagination of the next generation of engineers and aviators. The Tempest Early careers network (TECN) wants to inspire those at the start of their careers, as well as people who are embarking on their secondary education. They'll become the leaders of the programme in the future as the systems come into service in 2035.

In this episode we speak to mentors and mentees working on Tempest who discuss how the network's cross-partner mentoring scheme is helping strengthen the transformative collaboration that is delivering team Tempest.

Joining host Zevi Watmough on this episode is David, a TECN and cross partner mentoring scheme coordinator; TECN member, Parampal and his mentor Tony, transformation programme manager at Rolls Royce; and Blossom, who is a talent development advisor at Team Tempest partner MBDA.

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The Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) is a partnership and ambitious endeavour between the UK, Japan and Italy to work together to deliver the next generation of combat air fighter jets.

The programme builds on the substantial progress already made in the UK by Team Tempest to research, evaluate and develop a host of next generation future combat air systems capabilities.

In this latest issue of Future Horizons, we spoke with Senior Responsible Owners from across the UK Team Tempest partners during DSEI 2023 to hear their thoughts on what GCAP means to Team Tempest and the UK.

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In this special edition of the Future Horizons - Tempest podcast, we have teamed up with the Royal Aeronautical Society for an update on the Future Combat Air Systems (FCAS) programme.

The Royal Aeronautical Society is the world's only professional membership association dedicated to the aerospace and aviation industry. In October 2022, the Society hosted a high-level discussion on the unique role Tempest will play in the delivery of the next generation of global Combat Air capability.

In this podcast, we hear from Richard Berthon, UK MOD Director of Future Combat Air, Herman Claesen, FCAS Managing Director, BAE Systems and Air Cdre Jonny Moreton, UK MOD  FCAS Portfolio Director, as they reflect on the key points discussed at the roundtable discussion hosted by Aerospace Editor-in-Chief, Tim Robinson.

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Earlier this summer, Tempest returned to the Farnborough International Air Show - the spiritual birthplace of the programme following its unveiling in 2018.

The Tempest presence at this year's air show offered those visiting a chance to learn more about:

• the work being undertaken by each of the programme's international partners,

The air show was therefore a fitting background for the Future Horizons podcast to provide an update on the Tempest story and hear how the programme is preparing for the future.

Future Horizons podcast host, Zevi Watmough introduces UK MOD Programme Director FCAS Programme Air Commodore Jonny Moreton, and UK MOD Director FCAS, Richard Berthon and hears from representatives of the Tempest Early Careers Network (known as TECN).

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