The money is meant to support the development of critical sovereign combat air technologies
The UK government has announced a £708 million (€830.2 million) investment to accelerate the development of next-generation combat air technologies and strengthen Britain’s contribution to the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).
The Ministry of Defence has awarded the contract extension to BAE Systems to continue work on the UK’s Future Combat Air System (FCAS), which includes the sixth-generation Tempest combat aircraft and wider capabilities such as uncrewed air systems, advanced networks and next-generation weapons technologies.
The investment, announced at the Farnborough International Airshow, will support the development of critical sovereign combat air technologies underpinning the UK’s future air combat capability. It forms part of the government’s wider commitment to invest £8.6 billion (€10.1 billion) in GCAP over the next four years.
Under the contract, BAE Systems will lead the development and integration of technologies including artificial intelligence, digital engineering, advanced software and manufacturing techniques such as augmented reality, robotics and additive manufacturing. The programme is being delivered alongside Team Tempest partners Leonardo UK, MBDA UK and Rolls-Royce.
