Are we copying the Chinese now? :E
https://cimg0.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.gmf...649f7f26cd.jpg

Very definitely not a plea for a repeat of F111 and F35. But then again they were very different things. A low-level strike bomber asked to be a long-range carrier based interceptor and a strikefighter asked to do several things, including be cheap(!), be STOVL, be an F16-alike, be an A6(ish) alike, all in one airframe. A big ask.

All I'm suggesting here is that the early stages of what appears to be an air-dominance type aircraft design and requirements exercise does not dismiss immediately the need to fly off a ship - preferably using catapults and arrester gear. If it becomes a serious cost/performance limiter, then fair enough, drop it, but we should try to avoid repeating a situation where the question is never even asked, because either "SHAR flies off ships" or "CVS is too small".

You never know - there might actually be an export market for it.........as well as potential closer to home.

Excellent news.

Post Brexit, blighty can partner with the Iranians on the project.

https://cimg9.ibsrv.net/gimg/www.gmf...cfe024e441.jpg

:}

JAS

Jeez Guys, it's a wood and filler mock-up of...nothing. Anyone able to explain the costings that equate to the quoted " £2B" UK Gov support? Hot air! So this is what, 6th Gen? UK cannot afford to do this on its own. I suggest this is just political fudge to keep BAe in the game for a while, a £200M per year life-support R&D drip feed, not a real design or reflection of what might be needed in 20 years time. :hmm:

OAP

Yeah but lots of names have been used - some others are no longer politically acceptable

we could call it the "Aspiration" I guess.............

Front end also looks like it can be clipped on and off and swapped with various other " pods" for the want of a better description

You can tell how desperate BAe and the RAF are here, they have named it before designing it! "Team Tempest" etc...blah! :ooh:

OAP

And use more up to date software and OP systems than what was installed on the new carrier 😳

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

Will this be our first indigenous combat jet since Sea Harrier?

Or is it just a cardboard copy of Hollywood's Firefox machine?

Tempest
 

Do hope it gets on better than the TSR 2

Manned and unmanned sounds a good mix - manned aircraft for Air Defence and ground support (The old mk 1 eyeball) and autonomous/RPV for interdiction and long range attack options.

And at least they have avoided Dave mk 2 ((Clive?) by naming it first

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.

Enemies of the people and saboteurs, the lot of them!! Ho hum.

In service 2035... and that's TODAY's Target - 17 years of cash flow for BAe....

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.
The reality is likely to be quite different primary due to the massive costs.
It is vital that the UK aerospace industry is positioned to acquire the required technologies in order to take advantage or collaborate with whoever is both ambitious and capable of producing a new fighter in the required timescale.

Nope, but when it comes to IT and budgets, it is usually the number 1 thing to hit the chopping block first or get relegated to the One Day to upgrade list …

Is there going to be a two seat version that can be flown without a pilot or a WSOP? ;)