UK and Japan to jointly develop future fighter jet engine demonstrator
UK and Japan have joined forces forces to develop fighter aircraft engine technologies to power the separate sixth-generation fighters being pursued by both nations.
The agreement covers joint work on a jet engine demonstrator for the UK-led Tempest and the Japanese F-X program. The work on the new jet engine demonstrator will commence in 2022.
The two governments have signed a memorandum of cooperation enabling joint efforts on the engine demonstrator and other technologies, the British Ministry of Defence announced on December 22.
“Strengthening our partnerships in the Indo-Pacific is a strategic priority and this commitment with Japan, one of our closest security partners in Asia, is a clear example of that” said UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.
“Designing a brand-new combat air system with a fighter aircraft at its heart is a highly ambitious project so working with like-minded nations is vital. Building on the technological and industrial strengths of our two countries, we will be exploring a wide-ranging partnership across next-generation combat air technologies.”
The UK investing an initial £30 million in planning, digital designs and innovative manufacturing developments and will further spend £200 million towards developing a full-scale demonstrator power system, supporting hundreds of highly skilled jobs. Over the next four years, the UK is investing more than £2 billion into its major national and international endeavour to design a world-leading Future Combat Air System, often referred to as ‘Tempest’.
UK Defence Procurement Minister Jeremy Quin said that UK looks forward to the “continued partnership with a formidable power and close ally,” adding that Japanese “have made enormous progress on technologies that can complement our own advanced skills and could help ensure both our Armed Forces remain at the forefront of military innovation.”
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) and IHI will lead the work in Japan while and Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems will lead from the UK. Team Tempest industry partners also include Italian aerospace and defense group Leonardo and European missile maker MBDA.
“This initiative with Japan is a win-win opportunity to develop world-beating power technologies together. Investing and working together with Japan to demonstrate highly advanced engine systems will boost our national industries and design a cutting-edge military capability,” said UK Director Future Combat Air, Richard Berthon.
“The industry teams in both UK and Japan bring complementary technologies that will drive cleaner, next generation power and propulsion for both nations future fighter requirements” said Alex Zino, Director of Business Development and Future Programmes at Rolls-Royce.
“The joint engine demonstrator program is an exciting opportunity to bring together some of the best combat air capabilities in the world and will also enable the development of innovative and critical technologies that will be fundamental to the future of the Defense aerospace industry,” he said.
