{"id":34068,"date":"2018-08-03T14:44:02","date_gmt":"2018-08-03T14:44:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2018\/08\/03\/despite-brexit-leonardo-see-a-way-the-uk-tempest-fighter-could-win-eu-funding\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T22:43:11","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:43:11","slug":"despite-brexit-leonardo-see-a-way-the-uk-tempest-fighter-could-win-eu-funding","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/global\/europe\/2018\/08\/03\/despite-brexit-leonardo-see-a-way-the-uk-tempest-fighter-could-win-eu-funding\/","title":{"rendered":"Despite Brexit, Leonardo sees a way the UK Tempest fighter could win EU funding"},"content":{"rendered":"
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In a surprise move, the United Kingdom unveiled their new future fighter concept, the Tempest, and outlined a plan to make it a reality.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n

ROME \u2014 The U.K.\u2019s new Tempest fighter<\/a>, planned as Britain nears its exit from the European Union, may still benefit from funding provided by the EU, according to one of the partners.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Britain\u2019s launch of the Tempest at the Farnborough Airshow last month follows plans by France and Germany to build their own new fighter, reflecting the rift caused by the Brexit referendum in 2016.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Firms due to work on the Tempest include BAE Systems, MBDA, Rolls-Royce and Leonardo, which is an Italian firm but one that employs 7,000 staff in the U.K. Italy and Sweden are possible national partners on the program.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The program would appear to be excluded from receiving funding from the EU\u2019s new defense fund thanks to Brexit. But if EU partners do sign up, then the organization\u2019s cash might yet be used, said Giovanni Soccodato, head of strategy, markets and business development at Leonardo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cIf, for example, Italy, Germany and Sweden were on the program and firms in those three countries were working on a thermal hood (camera) using EU defense funds, why could it not be used also on the Tempest?\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Nor did he believe Brexit would pose a threat to Leonardo\u2019s work on the Tempest. \u201cI imagine there could be ad hoc trade deals,\u201d he said. \u201cUltimately, there could be a convergence between Tempest and the Franco-German project \u2014 it is difficult to think of EU programs with no U.K. input.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t