Aircraft & UAVs

Tempest

Also known as
  • BAE Systems Tempest
  • Tempest FCAS
  • Future Combat Air System
  • FCAS
  • Global Combat Air Programme
  • GCAP

Tempest is the UK name for the crewed fighter at the centre of the Global Combat Air Programme, a UK-Italy-Japan effort to develop a next-generation stealth combat aircraft with digital engineering, advanced sensing, and networked future-air-system roles. The programme is not fielded in combat, so this draft records programme identity and development context without conflict-use claims.

Tempest, sixth-generation crewed combat aircraft programme, Aircraft & UAVs
Image source: Wikimedia Tempest Hangar Image
Programme Status

Tempest is best read as a development programme rather than a fielded aircraft. Official programme sources describe a crewed stealth fighter planned for GCAP, supported by uncrewed platforms, next-generation weapons, networks, data sharing, and training rather than a single aircraft-only replacement.

Current phase

Advanced concept, assessment, and detailed design work under an 18-month Edgewing contract announced on 2026-07-03.

Industrial structure

Edgewing leads GCAP aircraft design and development, drawing on BAE Systems, Leonardo, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries as national lead systems integrators.

Conflict-use limit

No direct source found for operational combat use; the aircraft remains in development with a 2035 target stated by programme sources.

Profile / Specs

Profile

Origin
United Kingdom / Italy / Japan
Type
sixth-generation crewed combat aircraft programme
Service note
Future combat-air programme launched in 2018 and folded into GCAP in 2022, with partner nations targeting aircraft delivery in 2035.
Designer
Team Tempest and GCAP industry partners; Edgewing is the GCAP trinational prime contractor and design authority.
Designed
Concept work public from 2018; GCAP launched in 2022 and treaty framework signed in 2023.
Produced
In development; partner governments and industry state a 2035 delivery target.
Number built
No operational production aircraft publicly reported as of 2026-07-06.

Specifications

Programme
Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP); Tempest is the UK name for the crewed combat aircraft element.
Aircraft class
Planned sixth-generation crewed stealth combat aircraft.
Role concept
Future combat-air system built around a core crewed aircraft, uncrewed platforms, next-generation weapons, networks, data sharing, support, and training.
Planned service target
Partner sources state an expected 2035 delivery target.
Industrial lead
Edgewing is the trinational prime contractor and design authority; BAE Systems, Leonardo, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries are national lead systems integrators.
Development status
An 18-month 4.6 billion pound contract announced on 2026-07-03 funds advanced concept, assessment, and further detailed design and development.
Demonstrator
A UK piloted supersonic Combat Air Flying Demonstrator is being built to mature technologies for a sixth-generation fighter.
Sensor ambition
UK government material describes a planned radar able to provide about 10,000 times more data than current systems.
Timeline

Tempest Key Events

  1. Tempest unveiled with UK combat-air strategy

    The UK introduced Tempest as the core aircraft concept for its Future Combat Air System work and the Team Tempest industrial base.

    Sources: BAE Future Combat Air

  2. UK, Italy, and Japan launch GCAP

    The partner governments combined the UK-led Tempest line of work with Japanese next-generation fighter development into the Global Combat Air Programme.

    Sources: House of Commons GCAP Briefing

  3. International treaty signed

    The UK, Japan, and Italy signed a treaty for the future stealth fighter programme, with Britain set to host programme headquarters.

    Sources: UK GCAP Treaty Announcement

  4. Updated concept model shown

    GCAP partners displayed a revised concept model of the next-generation combat aircraft at Farnborough International Airshow.

    Sources: BAE Future Combat Air

  5. Edgewing receives 18-month GCAP contract

    The GCAP Agency awarded Edgewing a 4.6 billion pound contract for advanced concept, assessment, and further detailed design and development work.

    Sources: Edgewing Contract Announcement

Media

Tempest Images

Tempest, sixth-generation crewed combat aircraft programme, Aircraft & UAVs - view 1
Source: Wikimedia Tempest DSEI Image
Related Weapon Systems
Eurofighter Typhoon, Twin-engine multirole combat aircraft, Aircraft & UAVsAircraft & UAVsEurofighter TyphoonTwin-engine multirole combat aircraftThe Eurofighter Typhoon is a twin-engine, canard-delta multirole fighter developed by the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, and Spain and built through Airbus, BAE Systems, and Leonardo workshares. Cataloged conflict use spans RAF no-fly-zone, reconnaissance, and strike missions over Libya, coalition strike and ISR missions against the Islamic State, Red Sea strikes on Houthi military targets, and Royal Saudi Air Force combat missions in Yemen.

Sources

BAE Future Combat AirPublisher: BAE Systems | Note: Supports Tempest identity, Team Tempest composition, future-air-system framing, technology themes, and programme-news timeline context. | Accessed: 2026-07-06BAE GCAP ProgrammePublisher: BAE Systems | Note: Supports the GCAP/Tempest relationship, digital-engineering approach, and British industry background. | Accessed: 2026-07-06BAE Combat Air DemonstratorPublisher: BAE Systems | Note: Supports the piloted supersonic demonstrator, manufacturing status, engine-intake testing, simulator work, and development context. | Accessed: 2026-07-06UK GCAP Treaty AnnouncementPublisher: UK Ministry of Defence | Note: Supports the 2023 UK-Japan-Italy treaty, 2035 delivery target, stealth/supersonic framing, radar ambition, and UK industry participants. | Accessed: 2026-07-06House of Commons GCAP BriefingPublisher: House of Commons Library | Note: Supports GCAP background, the 2022 creation of the partnership, Typhoon-replacement context, and the Tempest name for the UK crewed aircraft element. | Accessed: 2026-07-06Edgewing Programme OverviewPublisher: Edgewing | Note: Supports Edgewing's role, GIGO management context, national industrial leads, and next-generation technology framing. | Accessed: 2026-07-06Edgewing ShareholdersPublisher: Edgewing | Note: Supports Edgewing shareholder and lead-partner identities: BAE Systems, Leonardo, and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co. Ltd. | Accessed: 2026-07-06Edgewing Contract AnnouncementPublisher: Edgewing | Note: Supports the 2026-07-03 4.6 billion pound GCAP contract, 18-month phase, design-authority role, and 2035 delivery target. | Accessed: 2026-07-06Leonardo GCAP OverviewPublisher: Leonardo | Note: Supports Leonardo's GCAP role and the Edgewing joint-venture context. | Accessed: 2026-07-06MHI GCAP Collaboration AgreementPublisher: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries | Note: Supports Mitsubishi Heavy Industries' GCAP role and the 2023 collaboration agreement with BAE Systems and Leonardo. | Accessed: 2026-07-06Wikimedia Tempest Hangar ImagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports primary image provenance for a UK MOD Crown-copyright image of the Tempest concept model at RAF Marham. | Accessed: 2026-07-06Wikimedia Tempest DSEI ImagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports gallery image provenance and CC BY-SA 4.0 licensing for a Tempest model photographed at DSEI 2019. | Accessed: 2026-07-06