The UK’s next-generation fighter jet, Tempest, may be the last aircraft to require a human pilot, according to Air Commodore Martin Lowe, the programme director of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS). Speaking on the Sitrep podcast, which covers the top defense stories of the week, Lowe discussed the Tempest project—a collaboration between the UK, Italy, and Japan to develop a sixth-generation fighter jet.
The Tempest is expected to feature advanced technologies such as laser weapons, brain sensors, and helmet-integrated cockpit controls, which sound like science fiction. The project also emphasizes the development of a high-capacity networking system, known as the ‘Combat Cloud’, which will link aircraft, ground crew, and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
While Lowe believes fully uncrewed systems are not yet feasible, he envisions a future where combat air systems consist of both crewed and uncrewed elements. This balance aims to achieve the necessary military effectiveness. He stated that the long-term goal is to transition to fully uncrewed combat air systems, though the timeline for this shift is still under debate.
The Tempest project remains central to the FCAS, with the first prototype expected in three years and operational service planned for just over a decade. Lowe highlighted the jet’s long-range, high-survivability, and impressive networking capabilities, which are crucial in modern warfare, increasingly reliant on uncrewed systems and AI-driven platforms.
Professor Michael Clarke, Sitrep’s resident expert, emphasized the importance of “networkability” in sixth-generation fighter capabilities. He described a future where a single aircraft could direct multiple uncrewed and robotic aircraft, all connected to air control, electronic warfare, ground operations, and satellites. Clarke suggested that in the not-too-distant future, an air force might have 1,000 aircraft, with only 100 being crewed, and a navy with 600 ships, but only 50 crewed. This shift towards robotics and networked systems represents a significant evolution in military strategy and capabilities.
