Tempest technologies make headway, industry team claims
Highlights include an advanced radar, next-generation combustion system and wearable cockpit technologies
Team Tempest industry partners BAE Systems, Leonardo, MBDA and Rolls-Royce on 15 October announced progress on various technologies for the future UK RAF combat air system.
Leonardo UK is developing a new radar called the Multi-Function Radio Frequency System, which it stated can deliver more than 10,000 times more data (equivalent to nine hours of HD video per second) with onboard processing than existing systems.
The company has already built complete sub-systems using the new technology and successfully tested them at its Edinburgh facility.
For its part, BAE Systems announced that flight tests have begun of ‘cutting-edge concepts’ for wearable cockpit technologies (pictured), developed with support from MBDA UK. These replace conventional physical controls with AR and VR displays projected directly inside the visor of a helmet, which can be instantly configured to suit any mission.
Concepts including human-autonomy teaming are also being developed, where a ‘virtual co-pilot’ could take on some of the pilot’s responsibilities. BAE Systems noted that the virtual co-pilot concept is still being developed, but could take the form of an avatar built into the cockpit to interact with the pilot.
BAE Systems test pilots are also trialling psycho-physiological technologies such as eye-tracking in controlled test flight conditions in a Typhoon aircraft, to study aircrew physical and cognitive processes.
Meanwhile, advanced combustion system technology is being developed by Rolls-Royce for Tempest. Engineers have explored the use of advanced composite materials and additive manufacturing as part of this work, producing lightweight, more power-dense components capable of operating at high temperatures.
As part of our promise to deliver comprehensive coverage to our Defence Insight and Premium News subscribers, our curated defence news content provides the latest industry updates, contract awards and programme milestones.
Related Programmes in Defence Insight
More from Air Warfare
-
![New US Army UH-60M Black Hawk order bridges uncertain path to MV-75 transition]()
New US Army UH-60M Black Hawk order bridges uncertain path to MV-75 transition
The US$234 million award for 16 Sikorsky UH-60Ms preserves near-term production, but funding uncertainty and an undefinitised contract leave the US Army’s long-term Black Hawk requirements unresolved.
-
![V-22 Osprey safety upgrade moves towards wider fleet installation under $35.5 million deal]()
V-22 Osprey safety upgrade moves towards wider fleet installation under $35.5 million deal
Bell Boeing will supply 73 additional ODSSHI kits as NAVAIR prepares to introduce predictive drive-system monitoring across US and Japanese V-22 fleets.
-
![AFA 2026: US Air Force examines uncrewed cargo aircraft for contested logistics]()
AFA 2026: US Air Force examines uncrewed cargo aircraft for contested logistics
The US Air Force is evaluating demonstrators for uncrewed cargo missions as it considers logistics requirements across the Pacific and other contested environments.
-
![Europe risks losing control of CUAS production capacity as manufacturers look abroad]()
Europe risks losing control of CUAS production capacity as manufacturers look abroad
European counter-drone developers are securing early orders in the Middle East while slow domestic acquisition processes threaten to redirect production capacity, expertise and investment away from Europe.
