Aeralis, Thales sign Tempest training MOU

Aeralis and Thales have agreed to develop a bespoke training system for the UK Royal Air Force’s (RAF’s) future Tempest combat aircraft.

A conceptual image of jet trainer aircraft that is being developed by recent start-up Aeralis. The UK company has agreed with Thales to develop a training system for the Tempest combat aircraft (Aeralis)

A memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the two companies announced on 15 July will see UK-based Aeralis and French company Thales build concepts for a ground-based training and simulation system aimed at complementing the Tempest future fighter programme that is currently in the early stages of development.

“Aeralis and Thales will evaluate concepts for a common simulator system that can be used to support all phases in a future flying training system and which could be demonstrated in time for [the] Farnborough [International Air Show] 2022,” the announcement said. It added that Thales brings about 80,000 employees across 68 countries to the MOU, while for Aeralis the arrangement offers the opportunity to advance the production of its suite of jet trainer aircraft.

The Tempest programme is a fundamental pillar of the UK Ministry of Defence’s (MoD’s) Combat Air Strategy announced in February 2018, with an initial investment of GBP2 billion (USD2.65 billion) announced at that year’s Farnborough International Air Show.

Team Tempest industrial participants so far announced include BAE Systems, Leonardo UK, MBDA, Rolls-Royce, and SecureCloud+, while on the governmental side it draws in the RAF Rapid Capabilities Office, Defence Science and Technology Laboratory, and Defence Equipment and Support.