Last 12-18 months British BAE Systems was actively manufacturing FCAD (Future Combat Air Demonstrator) for Tempest sixth-generation fighter under GCAP project. As result, 75% of future aircraft structure already produced, which by size may be larger than F-22, F-35 and even Su-57.
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Company told Aviation Week about work status, showing them unfinished aircraft. It will be at minimum one third longer than Eurofighter Typhoon. Thus this will be longest aircraft assembled in Britain since Nimrod MRA4 patrol aircraft, which took to skies back in 2004.
Journalists were shown already manufactured fuselage sections, central of which has quite large internal weapons bays. Latter dimensions visually appeared twice larger than F-35 analogs.
Great attention is paid to low observability. At landing gear installation location, faceted edges are added to frames, and Eurojet EJ200 engines installed on demonstrator will have modified nozzles unlike standard Eurofighter Typhoon installation. Worth noting serial samples will have new engines.
Currently three sets each of wings and vertical stabilizers are already manufactured. Two will be installed during aircraft assembly at BAE Systems Warton plant. While third set will go for structural testing.
Since this is demonstrator, developers say they have more freedom and experimentation possibility. In their view better to make mistakes and identify problems now than at later readiness stage.
Interestingly, vertical stabilizers themselves will also be large and may approach Panavia Tornado dimensions. Also serial fighter is expected to ultimately be even larger than demonstrator. Simultaneously BAE Systems works on flight certification preparation and pilot training, who already conducted over 300 simulator hours.
Overall work proceeds at high pace to achieve quite ambitious aircraft rollout timeline of 2027 and first flight in 2028. At the same time tight timelines are dictated by desire to enter service already in 2035, which Tokyo partners insist on.
Defense Express notes that given GCAP project progress, such plan implementation looks realistic. Naturally complications in work may always arise, but currently everything looks positive.
Aircraft size estimates are interesting, because if Eurofighter Typhoon has nearly 16 meter length, for FCAD this parameter may be at minimum 21 meters. This is larger than F-22 with F-35 and even Su-57, approximately matching Soviet Su-27.
Recall Britain, Italy and Japan jointly develop Tempest sixth-generation fighter. For this they created Edgewing joint company in June 2025. From this timeline it follows some aircraft elements began manufacturing before this.
Early 2026 brought threat of participant conflict, first over technology transfer reluctance, then over British financial constraints possibly delaying payments to 2030s. However ultimately this did not happen and funds were found, so GCAP managed to avoid fate of another similar project — FCAS.
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