Rayleigh and Wickford MP and former Armed Forces Minister, Mark Francois, demonstrated his support for the RAF’s next generation fighter aircraft at a special promotional briefing in Parliament recently.
The aircraft, known as “Tempest ”, in RAF service, will start to replace our Eurofighter Typhoon combat jets from the year 2035 onwards. The new aircraft is being developed in partnership with Western allies Japan and Italy and other countries are expected to join the programme over the next few years.
The Tempest will employ advanced technologies, including stealth and artificial intelligence and will be built by key industrial partners including BAe Systems, Rolls Royce and Leonardo, the latter of whom have a plant at Christoper Martin Road, Basildon, which is likely to provide advanced electronic equipment for the new jet.
Commenting on his attendance at the briefing, which was held in Speaker’s House (Mr Speaker’s private apartments in the House of Commons) recently, Mark said:
“Tempest is a world-beater, which should help defend our skies and those of our allies well into the 21st Century. As a former MoD Minister and also an Essex MP, some of whose constituents are employed at Leonardo in Basildon, I was doubly pleased to be present to demonstrate my personal support for this vital project.”
