This is exciting to see.
I’m going to steal the top comment on Reddit, as if it’s accurate, it’s very optimistic to read!
Tempest has potential to be the single greatest aviation achievement this country has ever produced, beyond Whittle’s engines, the Comet, the Harrier, even Concorde.
The US have given a contract based on creating competition, not the best design. FCAS is in the mud because the French are once again proving to be impossible to work with. The Russians can’t get a 5th generation fighter working, much less deploy a 6th generation one (yet). China seems to be best arranged out of everyone but it remains to be seen whether their new fleet is as functional as their supporters claim, but regardless they won’t sell in the West.
Which leaves us, with a project that’s well funded, led by 3 of the most advanced nations on the planet (UK, Italy and Japan) and hopefully soon gaining Canada, Australia and outside interest from the Nords.
Combine that with the Type 26 and Type 3X series of Frigates selling like hot cakes, more Typhoon orders and upgrades, Merlins flying off the shelves down in Somerset, hopefully more sales of AW-159 and potentially AW-149 production for NMH and it’s looking bright for our defence industry at a critical time.