Rolls-Royce has announced that the demonstrator for the future GCAP/Tempest fighter jet is under assembly with the fuselage structures shown. The demonstrator will be used to explore new manufacturing, testing, and integration methods for combat aircraft. Additive manufacturing is utilised to produce the aircraft's important structural parts, like the bulkheads.
Additionally, the cockpit's pressure and temperature showings are simulated in the digital environment to reduce the workload and time spent on testing rigs. Rolls-Royce will provide two EJ200 turbofan engines known for their use on Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets.
The Royal Air Force has donated the engines.
When the demonstrator begins flying, new interfaces for easier weapon integration will be tested onboard the aircraft to ensure the modularity feature for the actual fighter jet.
GCAP is a multi-national programme that develops a sixth-generation fighter jet. While the programme began under the name Tempest, initiated by the U.K., Italy, Japan, and Sweden have joined, and the four countries are continuing the programme in a consortium manner. Another comparable programme to develop a sixth-generation fighter is FCAS of Germany, France, and Spain.
