The recently Farnborough concluded International Airshow, (FIA 24) provided valuable insights into the future of air warfare. The requirement for an advanced 6th generation fighter stems from the UK's Combat Air Strategy, launched in 2018. This led to the formation in 2018 of the UK-based Team Tempest industry/Ministry of Defence (MOD) group and the establishment of the UKJapan-Italy Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP) in 2022. In December 2023, the Italian, Japanese, and British governments signed a treaty to partner on GCAP, marking a significant milestone in the development of a future combat air platform. The next generation combat aircraft being developed by GCAP will be known as Tempest in the UK.
FIA 24 was the first instance of the GCAP partners exhibiting at the show together. The consortium partners also unveiled a new concept model of the proposed 6th generation combat aircraft at Farnborough International Airshow. The new concept model features a much more evolved design with a larger wingspan for improved aerodynamics. The new aircraft model was also larger than previous concepts. "The new model unveiled at Farnborough International Airshow shows notable progress in the design and conception of this future fighter jet. We'll continue to test and evolve the design as we move closer towards the next phase of the programme," said Herman Claesen, Managing Director Future Combat Air Systems, BAE Systems. The lead industry partners for the GCAP programme are BAE Systems (UK), Leonardo (Italy) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Japan), while the Lead SubSystem Integrators on the programme are Avio Aero (Italy), ELT Group (Italy), IHI (Japan), Leonardo (Italy and UK), MBDA (Italy and UK), Mitsubishi Electric (Japan) and Rolls-Royce (UK).
Fast Progress
This story is from the August 2024 edition of Geopolitics.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 2024 edition of Geopolitics.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
OVING M TARGET
India's evolving battlefield strategies emphasise the need for the Indian Army to accelerate the induction of Self-Propelled Howitzers, enhancing firepower, survivability, and precision, as highlighted by ATUL CHANDRA, driven by lessons from global conflicts and emerging technological advancements
INDIAN ARMY EMBRACES "SMART SOLDIER" FUTURE
JOSEPH P CHACKO examines the SMART Soldier initiative's historical context, current developments, and prospective aspirations, exploring its past, present, and future
REMINISCENCES OF THE 1971 INDO-PAK WAR
In the ancient world, the concept as it emerged during the BCE period wasn't about soldier-scholars. It is probable that it may have started off as the discipline of scholar-soldiers; a huge difference for the discerning. This is because soldier-scholar suggests military dominance in the development of warfighting norms and modalities. This dominance gets marginalised when the hyphenation is reversed and becomes scholar-soldier. It opens itself to introducing the civilian scholar who understood war and warfighting well enough to understand its nitty-gritty, perhaps even suggest how it could be conceptualised, planned, fought, and ended.
ADVANCING BALLISTIC PROTECTION AND AMMUNITION
SMPP, with a rich legacy in ballistic protection and ammunition components, continues to innovate in defence manufacturing. ASHISH KANSAL, Director SMPP, shares insights into the company's expansion into ammunition production, its ground breaking advancements in lightweight ballistic materials like Boron Carbide, R&D plans for precision-guided munitions, and ongoing collaborations for global defence opportunities, highlighting their contributions to both domestic and international markets.
THE RISE OF UGVs REVOLUTIONISING TACTICAL AND STRATEGIC MILITARY OPERATIONS
MANOJ K CHANNAN explains the history of UGVs, their role in modern warfare, their integration with advanced technologies, and their broader implications for military operations, intelligence assessments, and human-machine collaboration
INNOVATIONS AND ADVANCEMENTS IN DEFENCE TECHNOLOGY BY MKU
The defence industry is evolving rapidly to address the dynamic challenges of modern warfare, and MKU is at the forefront of this transformation. In an exclusive interaction, VAIBHAV GUPTA, Director India Business of MKU highlights their innovative approaches, spanning advanced ballistic protection, cutting-edge night vision and thermal imaging technologies, and strategic partnerships to enhance India's defence capabilities. From pioneering protective solutions for soldiers to leveraging indigenous technological breakthroughs, MKU continues to redefine the benchmarks of excellence in defence technology.
INDIA'S STRYKER CHOICE
India's selection of the US-made Stryker armored vehicle over the indigenous WhAP sparks debates on prioritiSing swift acquisitions and combat readiness versus commitment to self-
HANWHA AEROSPACE DEEPENS INDIA DEFENSE TIES AMID REGIONAL TECH RACE
Amid growing regional competition in defence technology, a prominent defence initiative is strengthening ties with India through successful artillery and air defence programs. This collaboration aligns with India's strategic focus on bolstering domestic defence manufacturing and reducing reliance on imports. By fostering advanced technology transfer and enhancing local production capabilities, the partnership is poised to transform the defence landscape in Asia, showcasing significant achievements in artillery systems, air defence solutions, and aerospace innovation
ADVANCING INDIA'S DEFENCE CAPABILITIES
Larsen & Toubro (L&T) is advancing India’s defence ecosystem with ground breaking innovations, including next-generation combat platforms, autonomous technologies, and cutting-edge systems, underscoring its commitment to India’s military modernisation, highlights ARUN RAMCHANDANI, SVP & Head – L&T Precision Engineering and Systems IC
NEED FOR A LARGER ARTILLERY FORCE
At a time when India is increasingly facing a multi-front challenge on her borders, it is quite evident that the Indian artillery modernisation programme needs a massive thrust from the government, argues JYOTI SINGH
