Futuristic Tempest programme will support 20,000 jobs a year for BAE Systems and partners, data reveals

The Tempest programme was launched in 2018The Tempest programme was launched in 2018
The Tempest programme was launched in 2018
The UK’s future combat air programme Tempest will support an average of 20,000 jobs every year from 2026 to 2050 and generate billions for the economy.

Those were the findings released today by PwC.

Major Lancashire employer BAE Systems is at the heart of the programme at its Warton and Samlesbury sites.

The futuristic Tempest will eventually replace the Eurofighter Typhoon currently used by the RAF and other nations.

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The "Factory of the Future"The "Factory of the Future"
The "Factory of the Future"

The Tempest programme is being delivered by Team Tempest, comprising of BAE Systems, Leonardo UK, MBDA, Rolls-Royce and the RAF, and involving hundreds of high-tech companies, SMEs and academia across the UK.

Tempest is already a beacon attracting engineers and technicians and proving a place for young people to build their careers.

There are currently 1,800 people employed on Team Tempest across UK industry and the MOD, a number that is set to increase to 2,500 next year.

Around 650 people are already working on Tempest in Lancashire..

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The data released today represents the preliminary findings of an independent analysis by PwC on the economic contribution at the initial stages of the multi-decade Tempest programme, covering the period up to 2050. A full report will be available by the end of the year.

The preliminary findings reveal:

*The Tempest programme will contribute at least £25.3bn to the UK economy in the first 30 years alone. This figure excludes the significant impact of R&D spillover and the important role Tempest plays in securing the critical UK combat air industrial sector and its associated economic benefits.

*For every £100 of direct value added generated by the Tempest programme partners, £220 of GVA direct, indirect and induced) is estimated to be created across the UK economy.

For every 100 workers employed directly by the Tempest programme partners, a further 270 are estimated to be employed across the UK economy (direct, indirect and induced).

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Michael Christie, Director of Future Combat Air Systems at BAE Systems, said: “Tempest is an exciting and ambitious multi-decade programme that will help to preserve our national security whilst at the same time driving significant economic benefits for the UK.

"The initial analysis revealed today demonstrates that Tempest is critical to ensuring the UK can sustain its world-leading Combat Air Sector, preserving the sovereign capability that is essential to retaining military freedom of action for the UK.”

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