Episode 9 - A national endeavour: The UK’s first flying combat air demonstrator in 40 years

An essential pillar of the Team Tempest programme is capturing the imagination of the next generation of engineers and aviators, The Tempest Early Careers Network (TECN) wants to inspire those at the start of their careers as well as people who are embarking on their secondary education. They'll become the leaders of the programme in the future as the systems come into service in 2035. In this episode we speak to TECN members working on Tempest who discuss their roles, what motivated them to work on the programme, how TECN is helping to strengthen the transformative collaboration that is delivering team Tempest and their hopes for the future of the network. Find out more about Team Tempest Follow us on X for the latest news on Team Tempest Learn more about the opportunities for #GenerationTempest on Instagram Catch up our story so far on YouTube

Delivering a sixth-generation fighter jet by 2035 is an ambitious goal which will require Team Tempest to utilise the full power of digitisation. In this episode we explore the role that digitisation will play in developing a new fighter jet in half the time compared to previous generations of aircraft. We’ll assess cultural assumptions about the risks of new digital capabilities and discuss how these could unlock huge gains in performance. Discussing this fascinating subject with host Zevi Watmough are:  David Bell - Future Combat Air System Chief Technologist for Mission Systems & Information, UK Ministry of Defence Gareth Hetheridge - UK Director Digital and IT, Leonardo Kate Robertson - Enterprise Enablement Director for Future Combat Air Systems, BAE Systems Find out more about Team Tempest Follow us on X for the latest news on Team Tempest Learn more about the opportunities for #GenerationTempest on Instagram Catch up our story so far on YouTube

In February 2024, Team Tempest published the Future Combat Air System Sustainability Strategy, which outlined the changes needed to drive a more sustainable and resilient future for the programme. The strategy represents the start of a journey to position FCAS as a successful example of the UK defence industry’s ability to produce a highly sustainable capability. Joining host Zevi Watmough to discuss the Strategy and its importance to the programme and the wider defence sector are: Alice Elliott -  Rolls-Royce Sustainability Lead Andrew Sweeney – RAF Sustainable Aviation Strategy Lead Andy Eady – Rolls-Royce Sustainability Executive for Future Programmes Group Captain Jamie Miller – Ministry of Defence Head of Capability and Climate Security Find out more about Team Tempest Follow us on X for the latest news on Team Tempest Learn more about the opportunities for #GenerationTempest on Instagram Catch up our story so far on YouTube

In this latest episode of Future Horizons, we look at how Team Tempest is working with a dynamic supply chain to deliver a flying combat air demonstrator that will test crucial technologies needed for Tempest, before the next generation fighter jet takes to the skies in 2035. To help us learn more about how the demonstrator is creating opportunities and benefits for the UK, we are joined by: Paul Wilde, Head of Tempest & Combat Vehicles, BAE Systems Jonathan Brewitt, Head of Procurement for Future Combat Air Systems, BAE Systems Jayne Moorby, Head of Marketing at Oxley Group Find out more about Team Tempest Follow us on X for the latest news on Team Tempest Learn more about the opportunities for #GenerationTempest on Instagram Catch up our story so far on YouTube

An essential pillar of the team Tempest programme is capturing the imagination of the next generation of engineers and aviators. The Tempest Early careers network (TECN) wants to inspire those at the start of their careers, as well as people who are embarking on their secondary education. They'll become the leaders of the programme in the future as the systems come into service in 2035. In this episode we speak to mentors and mentees working on Tempest who discuss how the network's cross-partner mentoring scheme is helping strengthen the transformative collaboration that is delivering team Tempest. Joining host Zevi Watmough on this episode is David Owens, a TECN and cross partner mentoring scheme coordinator; TECN member, Parampal Singh and his mentor Tony Claire, transformation programme manager at Rolls Royce; and Blossom Hill, who is a talent development advisor at Team Tempest partner MBDA. Find out more about Team Tempest Follow us on X for the latest news on Team Tempest Learn more about the opportunities for #GenerationTempest on Instagram Catch up our story so far on YouTube

The Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) is a partnership and ambitious endeavour between the UK, Japan and Italy to work together to deliver the next generation of combat air fighter jets. The programme builds on the substantial progress already made in the UK by Team Tempest to research, evaluate and develop a host of next generation future combat air systems capabilities. In this latest issue of Future Horizons, we spoke with Senior Responsible Owners from across the UK Team Tempest partners during DSEI 2023 to hear their thoughts on what GCAP means to Team Tempest and the UK. Find out more about Team Tempest Follow us on X for the latest news on Team Tempest Learn more about the opportunities for #GenerationTempest on Instagram Catch up our story so far on YouTube

In this special edition of the Future Horizons - Tempest podcast, we have teamed up with the Royal Aeronautical Society for an update on the Future Combat Air Systems (FCAS) programme. The Royal Aeronautical Society is the world's only professional membership association dedicated to the aerospace and aviation industry. In October 2022, the Society hosted a high-level discussion on the unique role Tempest will play in the delivery of the next generation of global Combat Air capability. In this podcast, we hear from Richard Berthon, UK MOD Director of Future Combat Air, Herman Claesen, FCAS Managing Director, BAE Systems and Air Cdre Jonny Moreton, UK MOD  FCAS Portfolio Director, as they reflect on the key points discussed at the roundtable discussion hosted by Aerospace Editor-in-Chief, Tim Robinson. Find out more about Team Tempest Follow us on Twitter for the latest news on Team Tempest Learn more about the opportunities for #GenerationTempest on Instagram Catch up our story so far on YouTube

Earlier this summer, Tempest returned to the Farnborough International Air Show - the spiritual birthplace of the programme following its unveiling in 2018. The Tempest presence at this year's air show offered those visiting a chance to learn more about: the work being undertaken by each of the programme's international partners, the portfolio of technology being developed by the Tempest partners engagement with an extensive UK supply chain and the programme's positive impact on the UK's levelling up and skills agendas The air show was therefore a fitting background for the Future Horizons podcast to provide an update on the Tempest story and hear how the programme is preparing for the future. Future Horizons podcast host, Zevi Watmough introduces UK MOD Programme Director FCAS Programme Air Commodore Jonny Moreton, and UK MOD Director FCAS, Richard Berthon and hears from representatives of the Tempest Early Careers Network (known as TECN). Find out more about Team Tempest Follow us on Twitter for the latest news on Team Tempest Learn more about the opportunities for #GenerationTempest on Instagram Catch up our story so far on YouTube

In this summer 2022 air show special, Future Horizons podcast host, Zevi Watmough speaks with UK MOD Director Future Combat Air, Richard Berthon. In this one-off special, Richard looks back on achievements of Team Tempest since the programme was announced four years ago at Farnborough International Air Show in 2018. Richard goes on to discuss the importance of ensuring that the UK and its international partners remain at the forefront of combat air capability and how together they are working at pace to deliver a technologically advanced system. He goes on to discuss the excitement he feels about the opportunities that the tempest programme offers the next generation (Generation Tempest) of engineers and technologists, across the UK and how a diversity of talent will be so important to the future success of the programme. Finally, without providing any spoilers, Richard outlines the type of news that visitors to Farnborough International Air Show can look forward to.    Find out more about Team Tempest Follow us on Twitter for the latest news on Team Tempest Learn more about the opportunities for #GenerationTempest on Instagram Catch up our story so far on YouTube

In this final episode of series 1 of Future Horizons: The Tempest Podcast, we learn about Tempest’s exciting steps on to the international stage for the next phase of the programme’s development and discuss why diversity will be so important to the future transformation of the programme. Part 1 - What's next for Tempest? The Ministry of Defence has signed a £250 million contract with British industry Team Tempest partners for the next phase of development for this major national and international endeavour. In the first segment of the final episode of the podcast, we discuss the ongoing commitment for the programme in the UK, as well as the collaboration between the programme’s international partners. Host Zevi Watmough speaks to Mark Hamilton, Managing Director Electronics UK, Leonardo, Air Commodore Jonny Moreton, UK Programme Director, Future Combat Air System, UK MoD and Trevor Taylor, Professorial Research Fellow in Defence Management, at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI).  Part 2 - Transforming working cultures  (starting at 22:46)  Transformation underpins the Tempest programme – challenging ways of working, approaches to collaboration and driving innovation across the aerospace industry. People with very different thought processes, perspectives and backgrounds need to come together to innovate. Today’s Generation Tempest will become tomorrow’s workforce and they will have an expectation that they will work in an environment that welcomes difference, diversity and creativity. How can they feel empowered to embark on those sensitive yet vital conversations that will break down barriers and lead to the type of close collaboration that will be so central to Britain’s future prosperity? Host Zevi Watmough explores the answers to those questions with Chi Felly-Njoku, Graduate Electrical Engineer at Arup and University Events Lead at AFBE-UK, and Dr Mark McBride-Wright, Founder & Managing Director, Equal Engineers. Find out more about Team Tempest Follow us on Twitter for the latest news on Team Tempest Learn more about the opportunities for #GenerationTempest on Instagram Catch up our story so far on YouTube