UK Defence Secretary Gavin Williams unveiled a full-sized model of Tempest, the UK’s concept for a sixth-generation fighter, at Farnborough International Airshow.
He announced 2 billion pounds of government funding for the Tempest concept aircraft through 2025, when a final decision would be taken on the program’s future. The new airplane is a joint venture of Britain’s BAE Systems Plc and Rolls Royce Holdings Plc, Italy’s Leonardo SpA and the U.K. arm of MBDA.
The Tempest is expected to be in operational service by 2035 and is planed as a replacement for Britain’s fleet of Typhoons, which have been in service since 2003.
