UK unveils new next generation fighter jet, the 'Tempest'

[Airbubba]

Originally Posted by Rhino power

I assume you're referring to the drivel that was in the media about the QE class carriers running XP just because a screen aboard the ship was seen with the XP screensaver on it? Nothing could be further from the truth, but then, facts should never get in the way of an ill informed comment should they...

-RP

Here's an update from articles last month saying that XP may be gone (an upgrade to Windows 7 perhaps?) when and if the carrier becomes operational in 2026:

Does Britain's Big New Warship Still Run Windows XP?

HMS Queen Elizabeth is impressive. Her software is not.

By Kyle Mizokami

Jun 28, 2017

HMS Queen Elizabeth, the Royal Navy's newest vessel and the largest one ever built in the United Kingdom, is an impressive ship. Nine hundred and nineteen feet long with a crew of 1,600, the ship can carry up to 40 aircraft. Queen Elizabeth and her sister ship, Prince of Wales, will form the UK's main expeditionary force at sea, sailing into hotspots with their decks full of F-35 Joint Strike Fighters.

Oh, and Queen Elizabeth also runs Windows XP.

The brand new carrier left its dockyard in Rosyth for the first time on Monday, where it was assembled from subsections built all over the UK. The London-based newspaper The Guardian reported that computers running the positively ancient PC operating system were spotted on the carrier during a tour.

Update: There has been some speculation that the Queen Elizabeth won't be running XP when it becomes fully operational in 2026, and that these claims are overblown.

https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/navy-ships/news/a27108/hms-queen-elizabeth-windows-xp/

Another recent report:

Software

HMS Windows XP: Britain's newest warship running Swiss Cheese OS

Spotted on carrier control room screens - reports

By Gareth Corfield 27 Jun 2017 at 13:52

Updated The Royal Navy’s brand new £3.5bn aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth is currently* running Windows XP in her flying control room, according to reports.

Defence correspondents from The Times and The Guardian, when being given a tour of the carrier’s aft island – the rear of the two towers protruding above the ship’s main deck – spotted Windows XP apparently in the process of booting up on one of the screens in the flying control room, or Flyco.

“A computer screen inside a control room on HMS Queen Elizabeth was displaying Microsoft Windows XP – copyright 1985 to 2001 – when a group of journalists was given a tour of the £3 billion warship last week,” reported Deborah Haynes of The Times, accurately describing the copyright information on the XP loading screen.

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/06/27/hms_queen_elizabeth_running_windows_xp/

[melmothtw]

If the government is REALLY prepared to 'go it alone' and provide all the necessary resources to deliver such a programme then I applaud such an initiative.

It's not - in its 36 pages the Combat Air Strategy mentions partners 85 times. Saab currently sitting on the fence and weighing up its options, but I wouldn't bet against future involvement from them and perhaps even Airbus (they were certainly very positive about the programme today).

[Buster15]

Originally Posted by melmothtw

It's not - in its 36 pages the Combat Air Strategy mentions partners 85 times. Saab currently sitting on the fence and weighing up its options, but I wouldn't bet against future involvement from them and perhaps even Airbus (they were certainly very positive about the programme today).

If you read my input you will see that my view is pretty much the same as yours.

[SASless]

Who's to say there is even going to be an RAF in 2035 the way the down sizing is going on?

[Rockie_Rapier]

A purely UK product?

Not with Leonardo on board. I wonder how that's going to work out, post Brexit?

[TBM-Legend]

I name this aircraft : Planey McPlaneface!

[Phantom Driver]

Originally Posted by SASless

Who's to say there is even going to be an RAF in 2035 the way the down sizing is going on?

Better tell your kids/grand kids to forget the dreams of being a fighter pilot . The Machines are coming to take over .....

[FODPlod]

Originally Posted by Airbubba

Here's an update from articles last month saying that XP may be gone (an upgrade to Windows 7 perhaps?) when and if the carrier becomes operational in 2026:

https://www.popularmechanics.com/military/navy-ships/news/a27108/hms-queen-elizabeth-windows-xp/

Another recent report:

https://www.theregister.co.uk/2017/06/27/hms_queen_elizabeth_running_windows_xp/

Did you note the year of those ridiculous articles which arose after a reporter visiting QNLZ spotted a Windows XP screensaver on a contractor's laptop?

https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/new-...un-windows-xp/

[SASless]

No way off the shelf Windows XP would be bought by MOD.....they would have to forego paying BAE and others Zillions of Pounds to create proprietary software that doesn't work......hang on a mo....isn't that what Microsoft is so damn good at doing?

[melmothtw]

A purely UK product?

Not with Leonardo on board. I wonder how that's going to work out, post Brexit?

Not Leonardo, but Leonardo UK which is a British-registered company that will supply the EW systems and the like. Italy a good prospect for partnership, but not on board yet.

[tucumseh]

Windows

In 1997, if you'd looked at the Sea King AEW Mk7 development rig you'd have seen the 'Windows 98' logo when booting up.

Does that mean in 21 years MoD has advanced four years?

[ORAC]

Reminiscent of the EAP prior to Typhoon?

https://www.defensenews.com/digital-...t-gen-fighter/

“........The Future Combat Air System Technology Initiative, or FCAS TI, contract to develop the technologies is being delivered over 10 years, which is expected to be followed by a more production-focused initiative. While the program is being delivered by a team of British companies, all the parties stressed that the team is looking for partners, be it at the TI stage or later on in the program.......

FCAS TI essentially replaces the Anglo-French FCAS program that kicked off in 2014, although Air Cmdr. Linc Taylor, assistant chief of staff of capability for combat air for the Royal Air Force, stressed that work with France is still very much a priority of the U.K. “This leverages some really strong work we are doing with France,” Taylor said........

A number of demonstrators will be used by the Tempest team to test different aspects of the design, according to Michael Christie, strategy director at BAE Systems, who added that development will begin immediately now that the combat air strategy contract has been signed. He also said some existing demonstrators are being used and that wind tunnel testing has been underway since the beginning of the year to help determine the aerodynamic properties needed from the design.

Bone, meanwhile, noted Leonardo UK hopes a flying demonstrator will begin tests in the mid-2020s.......

[Pontius Navigator]

Originally Posted by Onceapilot

This is mocked-up from a Tonka wreck? Certainly looks like they nicked the undercart. Hmmm, one pie-in-the-sky after another. Presume this will be carrier capable?

OAP

Using OTS components in models and prototypes is not unusual, think AVRO 707.

[Pontius Navigator]

Originally Posted by VX275

If the F-35 was the Dave can I suggest this is called Bruce. Look at that chin and the smug look, Bruce Forsyth reincarnate.

I do believe you are right. How about Philip or Gavin though? Theresa just doesn't fit.

[Pontius Navigator]

Originally Posted by Phantom Driver

Better tell your kids/grand kids to forget the dreams of being a fighter pilot . The Machines are coming to take over .....

Actually I think they are ahead of you.

Grandson aged 13 wants to be an engineer. Nephew now in RN training to be a nuclear propulsion engineer. Another nephew wants a Cyber apprenticeship. A nephews rejected RAF option and is now with easyJet. We have a niece 19 looking at RAF but not AFAIK aircrew.

[Pontius Navigator]

Originally Posted by Stitchbitch

Are we copying the Chinese now?

The Temptresses bird catchers are a lot smaller. As I said years ago, isn't it strange how modern designs across the world follow a fashion. Swing wings, then twin tails, then deltas, then tailess, then angled tails. Copycats all.

[Cows getting bigger]

Have BAe dusted-off FOAS?

[Onceapilot]

Originally Posted by ORAC

FCAS TI essentially replaces the Anglo-French FCAS program that kicked off in 2014, although Air Cmdr. Linc Taylor, assistant chief of staff of capability for combat air for the Royal Air Force, stressed that work with France is still very much a priority of the U.K. “This leverages some really strong work we are doing with France,” Taylor said........

Hopefully, the "really strong work" with France will not involve a one-way techno-transfer, followed by an underhand...Non!

OAP

[Pontius Navigator]

Originally Posted by Onceapilot

Hopefully, the "really strong work" with France will not involve a one-way techno-transfer, followed by an underhand...Non!

OAP

OAP, remember the Fairy Delta 2.

Weren't the 50s amazing? A company that made the Stringbag creating a world speed record breaker? A company that made the Frightened producing the 188. A company making an aircraft slower than a train making the Buccaneer. Or English Electric. And I forgot Saunders Roe.

Of course there were also companies that remained true to type, Hawker, Supermarine, Avro and Shorts.

[B Fraser]

Originally Posted by VX275

If the F-35 was the Dave can I suggest this is called Bruce. Look at that chin and the smug look, Bruce Forsyth reincarnate.

Brilliant ! I can just hear the fighter controllers calling "higher, higher...….. lower, lower". All it needs is a small rug on top of the canopy and job done.