Italy and the United Kingdom have long been identifying potential areas of industrial cooperation between leading national companies in the Defense sector, with the ambition to initiate possible activities of mutual interest.
In this context, the two nations have reached a collaboration agreement within the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program, within what is known as Team Tempest. In this regard, it is worth noting that Sweden was originally part of this program, but in recent statements by UK Defense Secretary Ben Wallace, there is no mention of Swedish participation, but there is mention of Japan, which will surely end up merging its next-generation F-X fighter program to that of the Tempest.
See Also: UK and Japan want to merge Tempest and F-X fighter programs
The companies of the two countries will identify shared areas of collaboration performing joint analysis on activities of mutual interest. In the same context Leonardo’s Italian and UK electronic businesses and Elettronica SpA are developing demonstration activities on advanced sensors and systems
The FCAS program will develop technologically advanced multi-domains system of systems, hinged on highly innovative and disruptive technologies, with a 6th generation core platform, replacing the Eurofighter fleet starting from 2035. This ambitious project will maintain national sovereignty of the participating countries in the Combat Air sector, while redesigning future operational and industrial capabilities in the aerospace domain.
The collaboration between Leonardo and BAE Systems focuses on the application of Model Based System Engineering (MBSE) design methodologies and the joint development of enabling technologies for the national sovereignty of the future system.
These activities are the natural evolution of the innovation processes already initiated by the partner companies, and assume strategic importance as they challenge the technological frontier not yet mastered by the European industry.
Furthermore, in line with this strategy, Leonardo’s Italian and UK electronic businesses and Elettronica SpA reached an agreement to collaborate in the sensors and communications area to support the technological development of the FCAS project. This initiative will deepen the established collaboration of these companies at the international level through a demonstration activity.
See also: Leonardo set to open AW149 production line in Yeovil to boost UK’s medium helicopter bid
Another area of potential defense cooperation will be in helicopters, where Leonardo UK is participating with its AW149 in the New Medium Helicopter (NMH) program, which seeks to purchase up to 44 new medium helicopters to replace existing Army and Strategic Command helicopters.
