UK unveils “Tempest” fighter jet model

A model of the UK’s planned new fighter aircraft, the Tempest, has been unveiled at the Farnborough Air Show. The sixth generation jet will eventually replace the Eurofighter Typhoon and could be flying by 2035

TEMPEST: To be developed by BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce and Italy’s Leonardo

Illustration based on Future Offensive Air System project

Crew: Jet able to be flown by pilots or as unmanned drone

Next-gen systems: Could include “swarm” technology that uses artificial intelligence to hit targets, and laser weapons

JET FIGHTER GENERATIONS
1st Generation (1940s-1950s): Powered by turbojet instead of earlier piston-engines.
Examples: Me 262, F-86 Sabre, MiG-15

2nd Generation (1950s-1960s): Supersonic speed, onboard radar,
first guided air-to-air missiles. Examples: MiG-21, F-104 Starfighter

3rd Generation (1960s-1970s): Multi-role aircraft, improved
avionics, first precision munitions.
Examples: F-4 Phantom II, MiG-25, Mirage F1

4th Generation (1970s-1990s): Fly-by-wire controls, enhanced
radar, weapons and manoeuvrability. First low-observable (stealth) aircraft.
Examples: F-16, MiG-29, Mirage 2000, Tornado, F-117 Nighthawk

4.5 Generation (1990s onwards): More advanced avionics, limited stealth features.
Examples: Typhoon, Rafale, Su-35, F/A-18 Super Hornet

5th Generation (2000+): Integrated avionics and sensors, all-aspect stealth, network-enabled.
Examples: F-22, F-35, Su-57, J-20

6th Generation (2030s): Possible directed-energy weapons, hypersonic
speed, ability to switch between manned and unmanned versions


 Sources: BBC, The Guardian, U.S. Air Force © GRAPHIC NEWS