Asked about concerns the Tempest programme could be scaled back, a BAE spokesman said: “Tempest and the Global Combat Air Programme will preserve critical sovereign combat air capability and ...

The push to combine the Japanese F-X program, led by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI), with Britain’s Tempest, managed by BAE Systems PLC, by December has not previously been reported.

Tempest is part of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP), a partnership between Britain, Italy and Japan. It is led by ...