BAE Systems has provided an update on its progress in developing the UK’s first flying combat air demonstrator in four decades.

According to a recent announcement on LinkedIn, BAE Systems Air stated, “We’re making good progress on the UK’s first flying combat air demonstrator in 40 years.”

This project forms a critical part of testing and proving advanced aerospace technologies that could potentially be integrated into the future Tempest fighter jet.

This ambitious programme, part of the UK’s Tempest project, is seen as a vital step towards developing a sixth-generation combat air system. BAE’s work on the demonstrator aims to test new capabilities that include advanced propulsion, aerodynamics, and stealth technologies.

The demonstrator is intended to fly within the next three years and will provide crucial insights into the technology needed for the Tempest programme.

The BAE Systems announcement highlighted the programme’s role in “testing and proving aerospace technologies that could be used on Tempest,” showcasing the project’s potential to influence future defence capabilities. This flying demonstrator will allow engineers to evaluate various technologies under real-world conditions, contributing to the development of a modern, adaptable combat aircraft.

Avatar photo
George has a degree in Cyber Security from Glasgow Caledonian University and has a keen interest in naval and cyber security matters and has appeared on national radio and television to discuss current events. George is on Twitter at @geoallison
Subscribe
Notify of
guest
19 Comments
oldest
newest
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

DRD
DRD (@guest_868201)
6 hours ago

Let’s hope we see something doing taxi runs soon.

Rob Young
Rob Young (@guest_868212)
5 hours ago

The sooner the better… the world is getting dangerous.

Discodave
Discodave (@guest_868239)
3 hours ago
Reply to  Rob Young

we also need to get ahead of the french and Germans for export orders so we can kill fcas

Rob Young
Rob Young (@guest_868242)
3 hours ago
Reply to  Discodave

It would be nice to regain our world position in some of these areas.

Coll
Coll (@guest_868279)
52 minutes ago
Reply to  Discodave

I don’t think they have even started on the next phase of construction of the demonstrator and are still in the design stage. WEll, according to a French defence site.

Last edited 47 minutes ago by Coll
Louis Gordon
Louis Gordon (@guest_868291)
6 minutes ago
Reply to  Discodave

Realistically the most likely thing to kill off FCAS will be German and French infighting, like that which has killed many European defence projects before.

Robert Blay
Robert Blay (@guest_868240)
3 hours ago
Reply to  Rob Young

And we have Typhoon and F35 until Tempest. Two extremely capable platforms.

Rob Young
Rob Young (@guest_868245)
2 hours ago
Reply to  Robert Blay

Need more of both!

Dave Wolfy
Dave Wolfy (@guest_868241)
3 hours ago

What is the definition of “sixth gen”?

Rob Young
Rob Young (@guest_868244)
2 hours ago
Reply to  Dave Wolfy

Don’t think there is one yet!

Spyinthesky
Spyinthesky (@guest_868288)
15 minutes ago
Reply to  Dave Wolfy

Easy, the first aircraft to be flown that’s called 6th Gen will be the definition of 6th Gen, until the next one called 6th Gen is flown at which point you have a second definition. In other words it’s rather nebulous.

Tony Hutchins
Tony Hutchins (@guest_868252)
2 hours ago

It could still go the same way as the TSR2 or even Reaction Engines no money and government bottles it

John Clark
John Clark (@guest_868278)
58 minutes ago
Reply to  Tony Hutchins

If you want to make a comparison, GCAP is like a 21st Century merged Avro Canada Arrow and TSR2 in one package…

Cancellation is aways possible, but looking more unlikely as time goes by…

Fingers crossed, by this time next year, we will know, the UK will be contractually committed to GCAP, or it will have fallen apart.

NorthernAlly
NorthernAlly (@guest_868254)
2 hours ago

Weren’t we also meant to be converting an old commercial jet to test new technologies as well?

Coll
Coll (@guest_868277)
58 minutes ago
Reply to  NorthernAlly

Yes, 2excel got the contract to run and convert 1 757 ‘Excalibur’ and the other for spares for £115 million.

ZuluLima
ZuluLima (@guest_868261)
1 hour ago

So where’s the update? All I saw was a single sentence social media post with no content.

J c
J c (@guest_868274)
1 hour ago

We need to keep our eyes on the ball. Argentina have just secured a billion dollar order with the USA to supply weapons and upgrades to its F16’s. Whilst Typhoons with Meteor and F35’s may be more than a match, the fact is we have a hostile aggressor seeking to claim, by force if necessary, the Falkland Islands again.

Redshift
Redshift (@guest_868275)
1 hour ago
Reply to  J c

Have you actually looked at the package that they are getting?

Hamgar
Hamgar (@guest_868292)
12 seconds ago

Now with a Labour government they unfortunately have a chequered history of cancelling military aircraft projects.