The RAF had said it intends to use the Typhoon as a testbed for technology in its future sixth generation fighter jet, the Tempest.

The Tempest is being developed by a consortium including: the UK Ministry of Defence, BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, Leonardo and MBDA.

Air Chief Marshal Michael Wigston has said in order to shorten development times in Tempest production. The aircraft is planned to be introduced into RAF ranks in 2035, replacing the Typhoon.

£2bn will be spent by the British government on the project by 2025.

“The pace of development will be vital. And that is the founding principle of our combat air strategy,” Wigston said. “We cannot accept long development times for new equipment. Nor can we accept a system where even defining the requirements exceeds a Moore’s Law cycle, condemning us to falling ever further behind technology.”

“Typhoon development plays a critical role in that,” he added. “Our commitment to upgrade Typhoon technology including weapons, sensors and defensive aids will be the technology testbed for Tempest, and will make sure that Typhoon remains the backbone of our combat air force well into the 2040s.”

The comments were made at the Dubai International Air Chiefs conference on 16^th November.

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