Generation Tempest is a once-in-a-generation opportunity for the UK’s emerging engineering talent to shape the future of UK combat air.

But what does it mean to be a part of Generation Tempest and how can you become a part of it?

In this special early careers episode of Future Horizons, we hear from some of those already helping to design the UK's next generation combat air system and their experiences of working as part of Team Tempest.

Host Zevi Watmough is then joined by Team Tempest partners who discuss the different career paths available to those takng their first steps into UK aerospace and how personal skills and careers can be developed on UK's most exciting engineering programmes.

Discover more about the latest career opportunities with Team Tempest at www.tempestcareers.com

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The Strategic Defence Review described international alliances and partnerships as the bedrock of global stability becoming even more important to the UK in the context of growing risk and uncertainty.

It referred to the Global Combat Air Programme as an example of capability collaboration and a powerful signal of the UK's ambition to bring partners from different geographic regions closer together in support of collective security.

To discuss the importance of global relationships with the UK's future combat air system, including GCAP, host Zevi Watmough is joined by:

• Peter Watkins, Associate Fellow Chatham House International Security programme
• Retired Air Commodore Jonny Morton BAE Systems, FCAS, Director Capability Portfolio
• Dave Morris, Leonardo, Head of Campaigns for Future Combat, GCAP

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Hear more from Chatham House by listening to their podcast series available online or wherever you listen to podcasts.

The previous episode of Future Horizons focused on the rewarding opportunities for Senior Qualified Experienced Professionals.

In this episode, we take a visit to the 2025 Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) to meet some of the young people who are already working as part of "Generation Tempest" and discover why events such as RIAT are so important to inspiring the next generation of engineers and pilots.

We hear also from senior leaders on how developing interest in Science, Technology, Engineering & Maths is vital to not only to shaping the future of UK combat air but is a key factor in the security and resilience of our country.

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UK Government estimates that UK defence spending supports around 434,000 highly skilled and well-paid jobs in all regions and nations of the UK. Despite this, the national skills shortage remains a critical challenge in the Defence sector.

In this episode we therefore look at what Team Tempest and the development of the UK’s FCAS capability, has to offer Suitably Qualified Experienced Professionals and why a career in the UK aerospace industry should be of interest to all ages and skill sets. Joining host Zevi Watmough to discuss the topic further are:

• John McCullough, MBDA, Sales and Business Development Executive, FCAS
• MJ, People Leader, UK MOD
• Sarah, Skills Future Supply Integration Lead, BAE Systems

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In the first two episodes of this series, we explored the capability being developed by Team Tempest that will enable the UK, and particularly the Royal Air Force, to protect the country and meet potential threats.

In this episode we focus on the benefits that Team Tempest will deliver to the UK’s prosperity.

The UK government’s commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by April 2027, with an ambition to increase to 3% in the next Parliament, as economic and fiscal conditions allow, will see the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War.

Joining host Zevi Watmough to discuss how Team Tempest and the wider UK Defence sector are important contributors to the country’s future economic growth are:

• Clive Higgins, ADS VP Defence (Leonardo UK Chair & CEO)
• John Stocker, BAE Systems, Business Development Director, FCAS
• Mark Tivey, Rolls Royce, Business Development Director, Future Programmes, Combat Air

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In a special edition of the Future Horizons podcast, we join forces with InsideAir, the official podcast of the Royal Air Force, to investigate just how FCAS will address the Royal Air Force’s capability gap and what the aviators and engineers of the future can expect from this 6th generation capability.

Dave Morris, Leonardo, Head of Campaigns for Future Combat Air, GCAP and Mark Tivey, Rolls Royce, Business Development Director, Future Programmes, Combat Air join Group Captain Bill who leads the Requirement and Concepting team for the UK MOD to explore how the capability being developed by Team Tempest will be used by the Royal Air Force to meet this century’s evolving operational requirements.

Our thanks to Squadron Leader Peter Lisney and everyone at Inside Air for inviting us to talk about FCAS, GCAP and the work of Team Tempest. The InsideAIR podcast is a behind the wire view of the RAF, its people, technology and operations. You can listen to all episodes on Apple Podcast, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts.

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Future Horizons is back with an all new cast and brand new artwork!

Just ahead of the Farnborough Air Show last year, the new UK Government launched its Strategic Defence Review shortly followed by its Defence Industrial Strategy, which aims to align national security with economy growth.

In this series, we focus on these strategies and the role that Team Tempest will play in their delivery, as part of the Global Combat Air Programme.

To help us to explore these themes, Business Development leads from our Team Tempest industrial partners will join us throughout this series, along with guests from the military and industrial sectors.

In episode 1, we ask why the UK's approach to Future Combat Air System is of vital importance to our national security and how it is being designed to meets the challenges of the 21st century battlespace.

Joining Zevi Watmough for this episode are:

• Douglas Barry, Senior Fellow from Military Aerospace, International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) and co-author of the IISS paper: Tempest - Build, Bye or Goodbye
• John Stocker, BAE Systems, Business Development Director, FCAS
• Dave Morris, Leonardo, Head of Campaigns for Future Combat Air, GCAP
• John McCullough, MBDA, Sales and Business Development Executive, FCAS
• Mark Tivey, Rolls Royce, Business Development Director, Future Programmes, Combat Air

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Six years on from the launch of Team Tempest at Farnborough International Air Show in 2018, this year’s air show played host to the Global Combat Air Programme – the transformational partnership between the UK, Italy and Japan to design, develop and deliver a next generation combat aircraft.

Exhibiting at the show together for the first time, the three nations of the trilateral endeavour unveiled a new concept model reflecting the significant progress in the design of this future fighter jet.

Future Horizons was on hand to speak with the Business Development Leads from the Team Tempest partners – the UK industry partners on GCAP - to discuss the reactions of visitors, the progress in the delivery of the aircraft, and the role of events like Farnborough in highlighting the benefits of the programme and inspiring future generations of aviators and engineers.

Joining the podcast for this episode were:

• BAE Systems Business Development Director – Future Combat Air Systems
• Leonardo Future Combat Air – GCAP
• MBDA Sales and Business Development Executive – FCAS
• Rolls Royce Business Development Director – Future Programmes, Combat Air

We were also delighted to welcome to the episode, the FCAS Chief Engineer for the Royal Air Force ahead of starting their new post as Commandant of the Defence School of Aeronautical Engineering at RAF Cosford.

Enjoy!

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