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
• Leonardo Future Combat Air – GCAP
• MBDA Sales and Business Development Executive – FCAS
• Rolls Royce Business Development Director – Future Programmes, Combat Air

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,
• Kristy a Senior Engineer at Leonardo,
• Caroline an Engineer with the UK MOD,
• Kat a Senior Engineering Manager, at MBDA and,
• Kate a Degree apprentice from Rolls Royce.

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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, UK Ministry of Defence, David
• UK Director Digital and IT, Leonardo, Gareth
• Enterprise Enablement Director for Future Combat Air Systems, BAE Systems, Kate

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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
• RAF Sustainable Aviation Strategy Lead, Andrew
• Rolls-Royce Sustainability Executive for Future Programmes, Andy
• Ministry of Defence Head of Capability and Climate Security, Jamie

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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
• Head of Procurement for Future Combat Air Systems, BAE Systems, Jonathan
• Head of Marketing at Oxley Group, Jayne

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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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