BAE Systems, MBDA UK, and Rolls-Royce Unveil UK’s Stealth Jet Prototype for Sixth-Generation Fighter Initiative

In July 2025, the UK Ministry of Defence, in collaboration with BAE Systems, MBDA UK, and Rolls-Royce, unveiled the design of a new Stealth Combat Aircraft Demonstrator. This aircraft marks a significant milestone in British aerospace development, being the first crewed supersonic combat demonstrator produced domestically in over four decades. The initiative is part of a broader effort to advance next-generation air combat capabilities and is closely tied to the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a trilateral partnership between the UK, Italy, and Japan.

New Stealth Fighter Demonstration Design. Photo: BAE Systems

The demonstrator is currently under construction at BAE Systems’ facilities in Lancashire, with two-thirds of its structural weight already manufactured. Key components such as the fuselage, wings, and tail fins are being assembled using advanced digital and robotic manufacturing techniques. These include 3D printing, cobotics, digital twins, and model-based systems engineering. The aircraft is designed to test a wide array of technologies, including stealth-compatible features, modular systems integration, and next-generation flight control mechanisms.

Simulated flight trials have already surpassed 300 hours, conducted by test pilots from BAE Systems, Rolls-Royce, and the Royal Air Force. These simulations allow engineers to evaluate the aircraft’s performance and control systems under complex flight conditions, years ahead of its anticipated first flight. This approach is intended to reduce development timelines and costs while preserving sovereign design and manufacturing capabilities within the UK aerospace sector.

The development of this demonstrator is not an isolated effort but a strategic component of GCAP, which aims to deliver a sixth-generation stealth fighter by 2035. GCAP consolidates the UK’s Tempest programme with Japan’s Mitsubishi F-X and Italy’s national efforts into a unified framework. The demonstrator serves as a testbed for technologies that will underpin the future fighter, including low observability, advanced propulsion systems, AI-assisted mission management, and manned-unmanned teaming capabilities.

The GCAP partnership reflects a shift in global defense collaboration, emphasizing interoperability and shared technological development. Each nation contributes distinct expertise: the UK leads on airframe design, Japan focuses on propulsion systems, and Italy provides mission systems and avionics. The joint venture, formalized under the name Edgewing, is headquartered in the UK and operates under an equal ownership structure among the three countries. While discussions have occurred regarding potential expansion to include other partners such as Saudi Arabia, the pace of development has made such additions increasingly unlikely.

This demonstrator also represents a continuation of the UK’s long-standing tradition in fighter aircraft innovation. Historically, Britain has played a pivotal role in shaping military aviation, from the early biplanes of World War I to the jet-powered Gloster Meteor and the vertical take-off Harrier. The Experimental Aircraft Programme (EAP) of the 1980s, which led to the Eurofighter Typhoon, was the last major demonstrator of this scale. The current project builds on that legacy, integrating lessons from past programmes while embracing new digital methodologies and international collaboration.

The British aerospace industry has undergone significant transformations over the past century. From the consolidation of manufacturers in the 1960s to the emergence of multinational partnerships in the 1990s and 2000s, the sector has continually adapted to geopolitical and technological shifts. The current demonstrator reflects this evolution, combining domestic expertise with global cooperation to maintain strategic autonomy and industrial competitiveness.

The unveiling of the Stealth Combat Aircraft Demonstrator signals a critical juncture in the UK’s defense and aerospace trajectory. It serves both as a technological proving ground and a strategic enabler for the GCAP sixth-generation fighter. By leveraging advanced manufacturing techniques, simulation-based testing, and international collaboration, the programme aims to deliver a future combat aircraft that meets the operational demands of the mid-21st century. The demonstrator not only reinforces the UK's commitment to maintaining a sovereign combat air capability but also positions it as a central player in shaping the next era of global air power.