The UK’s combat air sector – vital for our economy, security and sovereignty

As the UK government carefully considers measures to assist a programme of economic recovery from the impact of Covid-19, BAE Systems and companies across the UK’s combat air sector are continuing to recruit and train staff and develop leading-edge technologies in collaboration with our boldest and brightest minds across industry and universities. This is in support of Tempest – our vision to deliver the most ambitious combat air programme in living memory.

The UK’s combat air sector is a vital element of our economy. It has a turnover in excess of £6 billion a year and accounts for more than 80 per cent of defence exports over the past decade. It is highly productive and sustains more than 46,000 skilled jobs, many of them in engineering and manufacturing roles. It maintains the UK’s ‘freedom of action’, in defence terms, by delivering an independent air defence capability which underpins the vital security of our nation.