{"id":1584639,"date":"2022-08-02T10:21:29","date_gmt":"2022-08-02T14:21:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1584639"},"modified":"2022-08-02T10:21:45","modified_gmt":"2022-08-02T14:21:45","slug":"how-u-s-and-uk-could-collaborate-on-sixth-gen-fighter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/how-u-s-and-uk-could-collaborate-on-sixth-gen-fighter\/","title":{"rendered":"How U.S. and UK Could Collaborate on Sixth-Gen Fighter"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"float:left\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">18<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fhow-u-s-and-uk-could-collaborate-on-sixth-gen-fighter%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=1584639&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div class=\"css-itqiyo\">\n<div class=\"css-tomq47\">\n<h2 class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-h6 css-1k6vyop\">A U.S. official has stated that American and British next generation air combat programs could cooperate in certain ways.<br \/>\n<\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"MuiBox-root css-dpoqzr\">\n<div class=\"MuiBox-root css-1k6rbu\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"How US And UK Could Work Together On Sixth-Gen \u2018Fighter\u2019 Programs\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/uploads\/2022\/07\/30\/NGAD-FCAS-.jpg?auto=webp&#038;auto=webp&#038;optimize=high&#038;quality=70&#038;width=1440\" title=\"How US And UK Could Work Together On Sixth-Gen \u2018Fighter\u2019 Programs\" \/><\/div><figcaption class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-1y9dg17\"><i>BAE SYSTEMS\/Lockheed Martin (Composite)<\/i><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<div class=\"MuiBox-root css-i9gxme\">\n<div class=\"MuiGrid-root MuiGrid-container MuiGrid-spacing-xs-2 css-i0amj6\">\n<div class=\"MuiGrid-root MuiGrid-item MuiGrid-grid-xs-12 MuiGrid-grid-md-8 css-7vczw4\">\n<div class=\"MuiBox-root css-10757gk\">\n<div class=\"container MuiBox-root css-11ucsrf\">\n<div class=\"css-cdb705\">\n<div class=\"MuiAvatar-root MuiAvatar-circular css-1d9y4h0\" title=\"Thomas Newdick\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Thomas Newdick\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/thomas_newdick_hs.jpg\" class=\"MuiAvatar-img css-1hy9t21\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-cdb705\">\n<div class=\"MuiAvatar-root MuiAvatar-circular css-1d9y4h0\" title=\"Tyler Rogoway\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Tyler Rogoway\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/08\/thedrive-tyler-rogoway.png\" class=\"MuiAvatar-img css-1hy9t21\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiBox-root css-1k0rpky\">\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-crj2xj\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>A leading U.S. Air Force official has raised the possibility of the United States and the United Kingdom working together, to some degree, on their respective next-generation tactical air combat programs, which have manned platforms as their centerpieces. Currently, the United States is going it alone with its Next Generation Air Dominance, or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/air-forces-next-generation-air-dominance-fighter-program-enters-new-stage\">NGAD<\/a>, program, although there is understood to be some crossover between the Air Force and Navy efforts <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/42941\/the-navy-just-released-its-vision-for-its-future-f-a-xx-next-generation-strike-fighter\">of the same name<\/a>. Meanwhile, the United Kingdom is actively seeking to bring <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/did-america-just-miss-its-chance-to-help-build-japans-future-fighter\">international partners<\/a> on board for its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/lets-look-at-uks-plan-to-fly-a-tempest-fighter-demonstrator-in-just-five-years\">Tempest<\/a> effort. The latest disclosure, from the U.S. air attach\u00e9 in London, Col. Charles E. Metrolis, raises, apparently for the first time, the potential for sharing of \u201cinsight or capability\u201d between the separate U.S. and U.K. programs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>In an interview with Air Force Magazine\u2019s Greg Hadley, Col. Metrolis said he expected there would be \u201csome avenue for crosstalk in the future in terms of development,\u201d between the United States and the United Kingdom, in regards to sixth-generation air combat programs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"image MuiBox-root css-1pxftiy\"><span class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-caption css-k6fpix\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">Early concept artwork of a potential sixth-generation manned fighter of the type being developed under the NGAD program. <em>Lockheed Martin<\/em><\/span><\/figure>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>While the Air Force\u2019s secretive NGAD \u201cis U.S.-only for now,\u201d Col. Metrolis said that the American side \u201cwould welcome the U.K.\u2019s thoughts on sixth-gen development and deployment.\u201d But he admitted that \u201cit\u2019s not clear right now how that will look.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p class=\"has-x-large-font-size\"><strong>NGAD and Tempest<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>In regards to the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/next-gen-air-dominance-fighter-still-being-competed-drones-farther-out\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">core manned &#8216;fighter&#8217; components<\/a> of these programs, at this stage, we still have only a limited idea of how NGAD and the Tempest will take shape. It\u2019s worth noting, too, that Tempest refers specifically to the manned combat aircraft effort within the British (as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/43267\/italian-air-force-boss-envisages-merger-of-europes-next-generation-combat-aircraft-programs\">opposed to European<\/a>) Future Combat Air System, or FCAS, although the boundaries here are increasingly <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/lets-look-at-uks-plan-to-fly-a-tempest-fighter-demonstrator-in-just-five-years\">becoming blurred<\/a>. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"image MuiBox-root css-1pxftiy\"><span class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-caption css-k6fpix\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">The latest concept artwork of the Tempest (center), accompanied by Typhoon and F-35 fighters, and loyal wingman drones. <em>BAE Systems<\/em><\/span><\/figure>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>Meanwhile, although an Air Force NGAD demonstrator or prototype of some kind <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/36509\/the-air-forces-secret-next-gen-air-dominance-demonstrator-isnt-what-you-think-it-is\">has been flying<\/a> since at least late 2020, we don&#8217;t know what it looks like, but by pretty much all accounts, and <em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/44057\/mysterious-aircraft-spotted-at-area-51-in-unprecedented-satellite-image\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">maybe<\/a><\/em> some visual evidence, it will be a heavy, tailless, stealthy design. It won\u2019t necessarily look or operate like a traditional fighter. Long-range, heavy payload, extreme sensor fusion and situational awareness, high connectivity via advanced networking that will enable cooperative tactics with unmanned systems and weapons, and very low observability (VLO, or stealth) are likely core tenets of the design. The extreme agility of fighters past will likely be traded for these other traits, with survivability and range being primary design drivers. It will also cost a lot of money. Based on Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/next-gen-air-dominance-fighter-still-being-competed-drones-farther-out\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">statements, they will cost<\/a> &#8220;multiple hundreds of millions of dollars&#8221; each. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>At this point, the\u00a0Air Force\u00a0is still to decide on a prime contractor for NGAD, or at least the manned component, but Kendall <a href=\"https:\/\/breakingdefense.com\/2022\/07\/air-forces-sixth-gen-fighter-downselect-not-all-that-far-away-says-kendall\/\">recently confirmed<\/a> that a final downselect is \u201cnot all that far away.\u201d Different companies are meanwhile making their cases for leading the sixth-generation fighter effort, with recent statements to this effect from both <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/air\/2022\/07\/20\/boeing-defense-ceo-says-company-remains-a-player-in-fighter-jet-market\/\">Boeing<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.defenseone.com\/business\/2022\/07\/northrop-grumman-ceo-we-can-build-next-generation-fighter\/375066\/\">Northrop Grumman<\/a>. We know, too, that the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/41968\/skunk-works-factory-of-the-future-will-use-roaming-robots-to-rapidly-assemble-top-secret-aircraft\">Skunk Works division<\/a> of Lockheed Martin is also actively engaged in NGAD <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/41968\/skunk-works-factory-of-the-future-will-use-roaming-robots-to-rapidly-assemble-top-secret-aircraft\">on some level<\/a> and it\u2019s more than likely that the final workshare will see different contractors handling various subsystems and components of the NGAD enterprise.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>Another possible aspect of the NGAD\u2019s manned fighter component is an element of adaptability, with indications that the Air Force is looking <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/41138\/the-air-force-might-make-two-distinct-versions-of-its-next-multirole-stealth-fighter\">at two different configurations<\/a> of a single design. One of these would be optimized for the European theater, while the other would have added fuel and other modifications tailored for the long-range, long-endurance missions that would be expected to be flown in the Pacific, with the latter seeming to be the primary configuration. The Tempest fighter, by contrast, is much more likely to be scaled for European operations, although it may well put a greater emphasis on range than the Typhoon currently does.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>Ultimately, the U.S. Air Force and the United Kingdom may be taking somewhat different approaches to their sixth-generation manned tactical air combat platforms. But it wouldn\u2019t be entirely surprising if there are at least some parallels, perhaps related to sensor capabilities, networking, and weapons.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>At the Farnborough International Airshow, which took place outside London earlier this month, Tempest\u2019s prime contractor BAE Systems unveiled a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/lets-look-at-uks-plan-to-fly-a-tempest-fighter-demonstrator-in-just-five-years\">new concept model<\/a> of the aircraft, as well as announcing plans to have a demonstrator aircraft flying within five years. Interestingly, compared to previous iterations, the new-look fighter model now bears a much stronger overall resemblance to the U.S.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/f-22-raptors-future-upgrades-shown-in-art-posted-by-air-force-general\">F-22 Raptor<\/a>\u00a0stealth fighter, with some elements reminiscent of the F-22\u2019s competitor, the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/24911\/this-is-what-a-northrop-f-23a-wouldve-looked-like-if-lockheed-lost-the-atf-competition\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Northrop YF-23.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>At this early stage, we should be careful not to extrapolate too much from the Tempest model, however. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t think that the current iteration of mockups is a particularly good guide to what the flying demonstrator will look like, beyond a general desire to incorporate broadband VLO capabilities in a fighter-type airframe,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Justin_Br0nk\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Justin Bronk, the Research Fellow<\/a>\u00a0for Airpower at RUSI, told <em>The War Zone<\/em>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>Of the British program, however, Bronk did observe that \u201cthe new demonstrator will likely have at least a fair degree of resemblance to any final Tempest core air vehicle.\u201d <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"image MuiBox-root css-1pxftiy\"><span class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-caption css-k6fpix\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">A recent graphic from BAE Systems shows a Tempest manned fighter working as part of a networked team together with Typhoon, F-35, E-7 Wedgetail, and \u2018loyal wingman\u2019 type drones.\u00a0<em>BAE Systems<\/em><\/span><\/figure>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p class=\"has-x-large-font-size\"><strong>Sharing parts of \u2018system of systems\u2019<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>Beyond the broad requirement to field new-generation fighter-like aircraft, however, NGAD and FCAS are both being pursued according to a \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/f-22-being-used-to-test-next-generation-air-dominance-fighter-tech\">system of systems<\/a>\u2019 approach. This means that, from the outset, they also include other complementary technologies, among them drones, including \u2018<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/42299\/new-unmanned-loyal-wingman-design-based-on-stealthy-son-of-ares-jet-emerges\">loyal wingman<\/a>\u2019 types, and a new generation of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/45057\/the-air-force-plans-to-test-launch-a-mystery-new-air-to-air-missile\">air-launched weapons<\/a>, networking, and sensors.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>Aside from the manned jets at the center of each of these programs, it\u2019s the multitude of new technologies, potentially all coming online simultaneously, that present perhaps the bests options for collaboration between the United States and the United Kingdom (or other partners, for that matter). Even if such partnerships existed only on the level of information exchange, it\u2019s easy to see how this could still be hugely beneficial to the cutting-edge NGAD and FCAS programs, especially as these are both operating according to bold timelines. U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall has talked of the goal of turning the manned part of NGAD into a real capability <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/air-forces-next-generation-air-dominance-fighter-program-enters-new-stage\">before 2030<\/a>, while the United Kingdom wants its Tempest fighter in service <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/lets-look-at-uks-plan-to-fly-a-tempest-fighter-demonstrator-in-just-five-years\">by 2035<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"image MuiBox-root css-1pxftiy\"><span class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-caption css-k6fpix\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">A BAE Systems infographic showing an earlier concept for the Tempest alongside some of the core capabilities and technologies the program is intended to embrace. <em>BAE Systems<\/em><\/span><\/figure>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s going to be the latest technology on both sides,\u201d Col. Metrolis <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airforcemag.com\/us-uk-will-have-avenue-to-share-best-practices-for-sixth-gen-fighter-development\/\">told<\/a> <em>Air Force Magazine<\/em>. \u201cSo if they [the British] have a particular insight or capability they can share, or we have something we can share with them, that\u2019s good for the alliance.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p class=\"has-x-large-font-size\"><strong>The drone dimension<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>The United Kingdom is also looking at the potential of loyal wingman-type drones, and how they will fit within the future FCAS architecture. The U.K. Royal Air Force\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/34498\/united-kingdom-will-decide-soon-who-will-build-its-first-loyal-wingman-drones\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lightweight Affordable Novel Combat Aircraft<\/a>\u00a0(LANCA) unmanned initiative is tasked with determining which drones will be needed for this.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>LANCA has seen some significant developments of late, including <a href=\"https:\/\/www.janes.com\/defence-news\/news-detail\/uk-cancels-mosquito-loyal-wingman\">the cancelation<\/a> of Project Mosquito, which had been planned to test a loyal wingman-type drone capable of working together semi-autonomously with manned aircraft.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"image MuiBox-root css-1pxftiy\"><span class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-caption css-k6fpix\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">Earlier LANCA concept art shows loyal wingman-type drones networked with an F-35B stealth fighter. The abortive Mosquito drone was expected to explore these kinds of concepts.\u00a0<em>Dstl<\/em><\/span><\/figure>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>In the wake of Project Mosquito\u2019s cancelation, BAE Systems unveiled concepts for <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/new-unmanned-combat-aircraft-designs-revealed-by-bae-systems\">two new types<\/a> of unmanned aerial vehicles. While one of these is a relatively small drone capable of operating either individually or as part of a networked swarm, the second is larger and has more in common with various lower-tier unmanned UCAV concepts. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"image MuiBox-root css-1pxftiy\"><span class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-caption css-k6fpix\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">Renderings of the two recently announced BAE Systems unmanned aircraft concepts.\u00a0<em>BAE Systems<\/em><\/span><\/figure>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>Clearly, the United Kingdom is very much still weighing up how to use drones of this kind \u2014 including which missions to configure them for and what degrees of autonomy they should have. Ultimately, it may try to buy into the NGAD program or <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/vision-for-future-manned-unmanned-air-combat-laid-out-by-skunk-works\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">parts of a less sensitive unmanned architecture<\/a> offered by the U.S., rather than develop at least some of its own unmanned platforms. This would also have the benefit of offering useful commonality with the United States. Still, the unmanned component is ideally suited for keeping the UK&#8217;s air combat-focused aerospace industry alive and represents far less risk than the manned component. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>The U.S. Air Force\u2019s NGAD manned platform, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/42318\/f-22-export-briefing-shows-what-it-would-have-taken-to-sell-the-raptor-abroad\">like the F-22<\/a> before it, will likely remain the exclusive preserve of the Pentagon, but there could be a case for opening up other, companion technologies within the program to other close allies. There are multiple precedents for this type of cooperation on sensitive programs between the United States and the United Kingdom. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>It&#8217;s even possible, that should the FCAS\/Tempest program fall apart, the UK could work to join NGAD in its entirety once it is farther down the line. The U.S. could even outright offer such an arrangement, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/6779\/reagan-invited-thatcher-to-join-the-top-secret-f-117-program\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">as it did with the absolutely top secret F-117<\/a> program during the 1980s. <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"image MuiBox-root css-1pxftiy\"><span class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-caption css-k6fpix\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">A composite image showing one potential configuration of the NGAD manned fighter, together with an F-22. <em>U.S. Air Force photo by Tommie Horton\/Lockheed Martin<\/em><\/span><\/figure>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/43722\/750-f-35s-now-delivered-navy-to-put-some-of-its-oldest-test-models-into-storage\">F-35 Joint Strike Fighter<\/a> provides an example of how a high-end air combat program can be run, in part, as a collaborative effort, with various levels of industrial participation from different allied countries. In all, seven nations shared F-35 development costs, with the United Kingdom standing out as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/39690\/top-british-f-35b-pilot-on-how-his-fledgling-team-is-forging-its-own-path-forward\">the sole Tier 1 partner<\/a>, with the biggest financial stake outside the United States.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>The secretive NGAD program, as it looks now, will not be run in the same way, but that doesn\u2019t mean there won\u2019t be some opportunities to share certain mutually beneficial technologies with allies and, in some cases, offer certain elements of the \u2018system of systems\u2019 for export.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p class=\"has-x-large-font-size\"><strong>Can Tempest go it alone?<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>However, the approach taken by the British on Tempest may actually preclude closer U.S. participation in that program. After all, the United Kingdom, in contrast to the United States, has been actively <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/43625\/united-kingdom-details-plans-to-build-future-fighter-jet-engine-with-japan\">seeking international partners<\/a> for its future fighter from an early stage, to share costs and secure potential orders to make the entire industrial effort worthwhile. There have also been talks about the potential for the rival U.K. and European FCAS efforts <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/43267\/italian-air-force-boss-envisages-merger-of-europes-next-generation-combat-aircraft-programs\">to merge<\/a>, although, so far, the British side has been lukewarm over this prospect.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re aware the U.K. is working with Sweden and Italy on [Tempest],\u201d Col. Metrolis told <em>Air Force Magazine<\/em>. \u201cAnd I saw <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/lets-look-at-uks-plan-to-fly-a-tempest-fighter-demonstrator-in-just-five-years\">the announcement<\/a> about involving Japan, though I believe the U.K. will have to formally submit a request to Sweden and Italy to have Japan join the program.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>Having different partners, with different requirements, all involved in Tempest will likely bring its own pressures. It will also make it harder to bring elements of NGAD onboard, should that be the ultimate ambition, with the United States less likely to share sensitive technologies with the United Kingdom if they, in turn, share them with Italy, Japan (not a NATO member but a formal US ally), and Sweden (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/ukraine-situation-report-turkey-cuts-nato-membership-deal-with-finland-sweden\">not yet<\/a> a NATO member).<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>As it stands, Japan has not formally merged its own F-X next-generation fighter program with Tempest. A final decision on full partnership is expected later this year and there is a growing feeling that this step will be critical to the long-term success of the Tempest program. Japan has allocated around $40 billion for its next-generation fighter and its investment could be necessary to help sustain a very expensive development process.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"image MuiBox-root css-1pxftiy\"><span class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-caption css-k6fpix\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">Official concept artwork of a potential configuration for the Japanese F-X future manned fighter. <em>JASDF\/Paipateroma-Wikicommons<\/em><\/span><\/figure>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p><em>The War Zone<\/em> asked Justin Bronk just how realistic he considers the Tempest program, when taking into account the eye-watering development costs:<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>\u201cMy concern would be around the ability to find adequate funding within national defense budgets to avoid hamstringing the potential of the program, especially without gutting the ability of the various partner nations to meet the urgent capability requirements facing them vis Russia in Europe and China in the Indo-Pacific over the coming decade and a half.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>After all, developing and then buying the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/this-is-our-first-look-at-a-typhoon-fighter-jet-in-qatari-colors\">Typhoon<\/a> (which the Tempest is slated to replace) cost the United Kingdom around \u00a335 billion, or $43 billion, in inflation-adjusted terms. Bronk admitted that \u201cit is hard to see the necessarily much more advanced Tempest costing a huge amount less even with all the new digital manufacturing and design tools available \u2026 within an overall combat air budget of around \u00a322 billion [$27 billion] over the next ten years, that sort of money will be hard to find!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p class=\"has-x-large-font-size\"><strong>The case for more F-35s<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>Looking at the costs involved in the Tempest program, even if international partners can be secured, one might ask whether the United Kingdom wouldn\u2019t be better off simply buying <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/39690\/top-british-f-35b-pilot-on-how-his-fledgling-team-is-forging-its-own-path-forward\">more F-35s<\/a>. After all, the F-35B is well established and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/28677\/the-united-kingdom-becomes-the-third-country-to-send-f-35s-into-combat\">combat-proven<\/a> in British service, while future production promises <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/blistering-highlights-from-the-latest-f-35-sustainment-hearing\">lower unit costs<\/a> and enhanced capabilities. At the same time, British plans to buy a fleet of 138 F-35Bs have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/36468\/storm-clouds-gather-over-f-35b-lightning-as-united-kingdom-prepares-defense-review\">long been under threat<\/a>, primarily due to the need to fund other big-ticket defense programs \u2014 like Tempest.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"image MuiBox-root css-1pxftiy\"><span class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-caption css-k6fpix\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">The Flight Deck Officer onboard the aircraft carrier HMS <em>Prince of Wales<\/em> launches a Royal Air Force F-35B. <em>Crown Copyright<\/em><\/span><\/figure>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>\u201cFrom an operational capability standpoint, it is hard to argue that the United Kingdom would not be better off buying more F-35s, and potentially joining U.S.-led UCAV programs,\u201d Bronk says. \u201cBut the primary motivations for Tempest are about keeping the national combat air industry alive and generating intellectual property and national jobs and skills. There are many good reasons for this approach when combat air is assessed on potential long-term return on investment \u2014 historically programs like Typhoon, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/38745\/how-british-tornados-used-a-special-weapon-to-ravage-saddams-airfields-in-daring-desert-storm-raids\">Tornado<\/a>, and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/37904\/the-untold-story-of-how-indonesian-and-australian-jets-nearly-came-to-blows-over-east-timor\">Hawk<\/a> have been extremely profitable for the United Kingdom in terms of both the value created through skilled jobs and supporting regional economies domestically, as well as export sales.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>There is certainly something to be said for a larger British F-35 fleet, together with fully funded upgrades, and perhaps even conventional takeoff and landing (CTOL) F-35A versions, combined with complementary drones. However, at this stage, the United Kingdom remains insistent on at least attempting to balance its operational air combat needs with a political agenda that emphasizes domestic prosperity and maintaining industrial capacity.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p class=\"has-x-large-font-size\"><strong>The price of collaboration<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>Ultimately, whatever happens in the Tempest program, it seems probable that there will be at least some kind of high-end air combat collaboration between the United States and the United Kingdom and that the future fighter programs in these countries will all benefit.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>While the United Kingdom is currently seeking to reinvigorate its own combat aviation industry, and to move away from simply \u2018buying American,\u2019 it remains to be seen how viable this goal is. In terms of drones, in particular, and the critical technologies required for these to integrate with manned aircraft, the United Kingdom may well be best served by working with the United States \u2014 or indeed, simply buying these technologies off the shelf, as it has done with its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.raf.mod.uk\/aircraft\/reaper-mq9a\/\">Reaper<\/a> and forthcoming <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/the-war-zone\/38898\/the-united-kingdom-has-chosen-who-will-build-its-first-prototype-loyal-wingman-combat-drone\">Protector<\/a> intelligence, surveillance, targeting, and reconnaissance (ISTAR) drones.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"image MuiBox-root css-1pxftiy\"><span class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-caption css-k6fpix\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">A General Atomics SkyGuardian drone takes off at RAF Waddington in England for the first time, in August 2021. This is a pre-production example of the new Protector drone for the RAF. <em>Crown Copyright<\/em><\/span><\/figure>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>For the United States, the issue of economic realities and the future of the industrial base are valid, too, but, in contrast to the U.K. fighter program, they are unlikely to determine whether NGAD lives or dies. On the other hand, the question of whether other allies end up taking any part in NGAD may well come down to the perceived benefits of interoperability. Already, the United Kingdom is one of the nations with which the United States enjoys the highest levels of military interoperability. That partnership is only likely to deepen and extend futher into the high-end air combat domain, at least in some ways.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p>As Col. Metrolis has hinted, the demands involved in fielding sixth-generation technologies mean that some kind of dialogue between allies is always likely to be welcomed. As we wait to find out more about the directions that NGAD and Tempest take, we may begin to see small elements of cooporation, even if they are very limited in scope and scale.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 paragraph css-htz1a0\" data-rawhtml=\"1\">\n<p><em>Contact the author: thomas@thedrive.com<\/em> <em>and tyler@thedrive.com<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"css-1483lpv\"><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"stripe\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/logo\/stripe-warzone.png?auto=webp&#038;optimize=high&#038;quality=70&#038;width=1440\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/logo\/stripe-warzone.png?auto=webp&#038;optimize=high&#038;quality=70&#038;width=640 640w, https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/logo\/stripe-warzone.png?auto=webp&#038;optimize=high&#038;quality=70&#038;width=750 750w, https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/logo\/stripe-warzone.png?auto=webp&#038;optimize=high&#038;quality=70&#038;width=828 828w, https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/logo\/stripe-warzone.png?auto=webp&#038;optimize=high&#038;quality=70&#038;width=1080 1080w, https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/logo\/stripe-warzone.png?auto=webp&#038;optimize=high&#038;quality=70&#038;width=1200 1200w, https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/logo\/stripe-warzone.png?auto=webp&#038;optimize=high&#038;quality=70&#038;width=1920 1920w, https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/logo\/stripe-warzone.png?auto=webp&#038;optimize=high&#038;quality=70&#038;width=2018 2048w, https:\/\/www.thedrive.com\/logo\/stripe-warzone.png?auto=webp&#038;optimize=high&#038;quality=70&#038;width=3840 3840w\" \/><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"MuiBox-root css-9qdted\">\n<div class=\"MuiPaper-root MuiPaper-elevation MuiPaper-rounded MuiPaper-elevation1 css-101rrej\">\n<p class=\"MuiTypography-root MuiTypography-body1 css-14entez\">MORE TO READ<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A U.S. official has stated that American and British next generation air combat programs could cooperate in certain ways. BAE SYSTEMS\/Lockheed Martin (Composite)A leading U.S. Air Force official has raised<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":1584699,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1584639","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1584639","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1584639"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1584639\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1584699"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1584639"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1584639"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1584639"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}