Opinion: Tempest and FCAS to merge?

[Dawes]

That's the opinion of Italy's Air Force Chief of Staff, anyway. I guess only time will tell:

https://www.yahoo.com/news/fcas-tempest-fighter-jet-programmes-180512173.html

[Stuart Galbraith]

We have to. With a 12 billion pound hole and nobody willing to fill it, Tempest is dead unless it merges. Expect right wing Tories to start throwing toys out the pram however. And the French of course.

[Daan]

Let's hope they do, before certain companies and countries become too entrenched in a particular project. Unfortunately, Europe is woefully behind in the development and production of the next generation of fighter aircraft.

[Stuart Galbraith]

I think Tempest is making progress, although as already said, its shortly to face a funding shortfall that, with the MOD's black hole, seems unlikely to be filled. Leonardo is the obvious pivot point. Its British and Italian, and it currently plays a role in the development of Tempest. BAE might be another, as it currently enjoys ownership of large chunks of the American defence sector.

Lets hope it works out. Im tired of this Brexit rubbish interfering with defence ties. We all live in the same Europe for fricks sake.

[DB]

I'd rather they didn't merge. The French would ruin it by demanding design lead and then throw their toys out of the pram when the RR led engine proved to be better than whatever performance they can drag out of the tired old M88.

[sunday]

2 hours ago, DB said:

I'd rather they didn't merge. The French would ruin it by demanding design lead and then throw their toys out of the pram when the RR led engine proved to be better than whatever performance they can drag out of the tired old M88.

Usual French SOP when collaborating in international weapons programs, proven several times. There are exceptions, like the FREMM frigates, but not many

[futon]

The UK and Japan to start research into developing a new engine next month or so. 

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-and-japan-to-develop-future-fighter-jet-engine-demonstrator

https://www.mod.go.jp/j/press/news/2021/12/22b.pdf

 

 

[Olof Larsson]

God no. We don't need another multinational "success story" like the NH90, A400M, the "Future European Fighter Aircraft" och the Meteor program, that has resulted in equipment that takes forever to develop and in many cases is over priced and under performing.

[TrustMe]

I disagree, after the cold war lots of countries reduced their defence budgets but with budgets on the rise due to Russia and Chyna peer competitors. I believe defence projects will have more funding and thus quicker timescales.

[futon]

The UK and Japan to work together in developing new fighter radar. 

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-and-japan-to-work-together-on-world-leading-fighter-jet-sensor

https://www.mod.go.jp/atla/nichiei_05.html

[futon]

...

Guerini, who is visiting Tokyo, especially expressed interest in possible Italian participation in Japan’s F-X next generation fighter jet, Kishi said, declining to elaborate. It would be Japan’s first domestically developed fighter jet in 40 years.

Japan and Britain have agreed to jointly develop a future demonstration fighter jet engine and to explore other combat air technologies and subsystems. The project includes Mitsubishi Heavy Industries and IHI in Japan and Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems in the U.K.

...

https://www.asahi.com/sp/ajw/articles/14597216

[futon]

Looks like an official program now, called GCAP.

https://www.governo.it/en/articolo/gcap-joint-leaders-statement/21236

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/joint-leaders-statement-uk-italy-japan-9-december-2022/joint-statement-from-prime-ministers-of-uk-italy-and-japan-9-december-2022

https://www.mofa.go.jp/fp/nsp/page6e_000318.html

[Stuart Galbraith]

There was an early, perhaps hyperbolic statement early on in the Tempest program that, as well as having capcity to be developed as a UAV, the vehicle may, at some point, be equiped with SABRE engines. Which if you are not aware, SABRE is a hybrid Jet/rocket engine that would theoretically deliver a top speed, at very high altitude of something like Mach 5...

Which is why im watching the new engine development closely, not with any real expectation it actually will turn out to be a SABRE engine, just giddy amusement if it does turn out to be part of the development program still at some point. I think a development of EJ200's is more likely, at least initially.

Anyway, good to see its official. Hopefully we wont see any political nastiness resulting from it from other players. Again, ive no real expectation of it, but you never know...

[futon]

SABRE engines sound like it can give it some level as an anti-sat platform, 2060s though if ever.

With the program name its got and goal for sales, not just domestic in the three countries, it might get put into cutthroat competition.