Factory of the Future provides the right tools for Tempest

Claimed to be the first facility of its kind, the industry 4.0 factory is gearing up to produce the proposed Tempest fighter and other aircraft with ‘game-changing’ digital technologies.

The Tempest combat aircraft: there’s a storm coming

BAE Systems to trial cobotic workstation on Typhoon line

These include cobots and other flexible robot technologies that BAE believe will remove the need for heavy, fixed, long-lead tooling and can quickly switch from the manufacture of one item or platform to another.

In a statement, Dave Holmes, Manufacturing Director for BAE Systems Air, said: “We’ve collaborated with the best of UK industry and academia to develop a cutting-edge facility that combines current and emerging technologies, ensuring the UK remains at the forefront of combat air technology development.

“Driving our manufacturing capabilities forward as we prepare for the fourth Industrial Revolution, will sustain and develop critical skillsets and ensure we can continue to deliver military capability to address future threats, whilst improving productivity and delivering value for money for our customers.”