Despite the hopes of industry in mainland Europe, the continent looks set to have two competing sixth-generation combat aircraft on the drawing boards during the 2020s and 2030s.
With the July 19 announcement of Sweden as the first of several “like-minded partners” for Britain’s Tempest, the UK system has become an international venture and a direct competitor to the Franco-German-Spanish Future Combat Air System (FCAS).
“We believe that Europe can afford two separate combat air programs,” former British Defense Secretary Penny Mordaunt said in a parliamentary statement on July 22, adding that the FCAS project simply “does not meet the objectives laid out in our [combat air] strategy.”
The memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the UK and Sweden paves the way for joint studies that will firm up mutual requirements and establish an outline plan for the industrial base for a potential future acquisition program. A report on the joint studies’ results is due next fall.
Swedish MOU explores joint requirements and industrial base
One or two concepts needed in 2020 for procurement process
UK is investing in -based flying testbed
Sweden’s biggest aerospace and defense company,
, will be a key player after a year of “deepening dialog,” the term
has used to describe the initial feasibility studies undertaken over the last year by the UK and Sweden.
However, Saab will not join Britain’s Team Tempest—a consortium of industrial and government entities—but will instead work directly with the different team members including BAE Systems, Leonardo, missile manufacturer MBDA and aero-engine company
.
The timing of the report may be critical. The pace of the Tempest, its associated Future Combat Air System Technology Initiative (FCAS TI) and the UK’s own acquisition initiative to bring a
replacement to the front line by 2035 demand at least one or two well-developed concepts that will be ready to enter the torturous government formal procurement process by the end of 2020.
