Seven New Partners Join UK's Tempest Jet Project at Virtual Farnborough Show

The Royal Air Force on Monday announced seven companies joined Team Tempest, an ambitious project that involves building a new jet for the United Kingdom.

"I’m delighted seven more companies have joined this mission to work in collaboration with the MoD, under the Team Tempest banner. They will bring the ambition, invention and expertise that will deliver the breakthroughs we will depend on for decades to come," Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said at the virtual 2020 Farnborough International Airshow (FIA Connect).

Launched in 2018, Team Tempest is a group of industry partners working in collaboration with the MoD on the UK’s Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project. The £1.9bn project is intended to develop the next generation combat aircraft, known as Tempest, which will replace the Typhoon.

The companies who have signed a partnership are: GEUK, GKN, Collins Aerospace, Martin Baker, QinetiQ, Bombardier and Thales UK, along with UK universities and SMEs.

Since its creation in 2018, Team Tempest has already employed more than 1,800 skilled engineers and programmers. The number is set to increase to 2,500 by next year.

The new members of Team Tempest will join forces on established projects and development work with core members BAE Systems, Leonardo UK, MBDA UK, Rolls-Royce and the Ministry of Defence.

Earlier today, Swedish Saab said it won a contract to build a FCAS center in the U.K. The company is investing initially £50 million in the facility.