RAF's Tempest fighter jet faces delayed take-off

BAE Systems has insisted the prototype of Britain's new fighter jet will take off on time despite concerns about delays.

The defense giant said yesterday that the demonstrator plane for the planned new generation Tempest fighter jet is 'set to fly within three years'.

That sparked fears it may take to the skies later than the previous target of 2027.

But last night BAE told the Mail it would be "ready for first flight" by December 2027, although the exact date was still to be finalised.

BAE insists there is 'no delay' and that the jet remains 'on track' for completion within a 'five-year window' announced in 2022. A spokesman said last night: 'The Flying Combat Air Demonstrator will be ready for first flight by the end of 2027.'

It is understood that the precise timing of the first flight will be dependent not just on when the aircraft is ready, but also on the sign-off from the Military Aviation Authority regulator and the Ministry of Defence.

The 'Future Combat Air System' (FCAS) project to create Tempest received a 'red' rating in the Government's latest Infrastructure and Projects Authority Annual Report 2023-24, published in January.

That means a high likelihood of the project failing to be completed on time or on budget. An artist's impression of the demonstrator aircraft was revealed for the first time yesterday.

It is the first demonstrator aircraft to be built in Britain for nearly 40 years, since an early model of the Typhoon in 1989.

The sleek design includes weapon systems hidden inside the fuselage to reduce radar visibility, similar to the US B-2 stealth bomber.

The demonstrator plane is being created as part of efforts to develop the Tempest jet through an international collaboration involving Britain, Italy and Japan.

BAE Systems, working on the demonstrator with partner companies Rolls-Royce and MBDA, together with the Ministry of Defence, said a 'major milestone' has been achieved with two-thirds of the plane's structure now being manufactured.

Herman Claesen, managing director for BAE's FCAS program, said: 'We're working to a 2035 timeframe to start operational capability.'

Separately, BAE revealed a British-made drone system has become the first in the world to successfully launch an air-to-air missile strike against another uncrewed aircraft during trials in the US.

The TRV-150 'unmanned aerial system' was created by the British-based research and development company Malloy and is being marketed by BAE.