NEW concept models have been released for a future fighter being developed across Lancashire.

Bosses at BAE, alongside international partners, have unveiled a version of the Tempest aircraft with a large wingspan than previously.

Technicians say the improvement for the next generation combat aircraft, being masterminded at BAE's Samlesbury and Warton sites, will bolster aerodymanics.

Engineers at BAE, Italy's Leonardo and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries in Japan are collaborating on the design and development of the future aircraft, which will use a range of digital tools and techniques, including computer based modelling and virtual reality to progress the project.

Herman Claesen, BAE's managing director, Future Combat Air Systems, said: "In the 18 months since the launch of the Global Combat Air Programme, we’ve been working closely with our industrial partners in Italy and Japan under the collaboration agreement, and also with the three governments, to understand and align requirements for a next generation combat aircraft.

“The new model, unveiled at Farnborough International Airshow, shows notable progress in the design and concepting of this future fighter jet.

"We’ll continue to test and evolve the design, as we move closer towards the next phase of the programme.”

Guglielmo Maviglia, Leonardo's chief global combat air programme officer, added: "Since the treaty was signed in December, the programme has seen strong commitment from each partner.

"Each brings different, but complementary, qualities and requirements. We are now working closely together to exchange knowledge, address common challenges and achieve common goals."

Hitoshi Shiraishi, senior fellow for GCAP at Mitsubishi, said: "I hope that this GCAP programme, with the broad participation of Japan’s defence companies, will foster innovation in the country’s industrial sector such as digital transformation, as well as the development of human resources in the field of science and technology.”

The partners say the combat aircraft, with a software-driven interactive cockpit, integrated sensors and next generation radar, which is a replacement for the Typhoon, will be in service by 2035

Further systems on board the Tempest are being delivered by Rolls Royce, Avio Aero and ELT in Italy, IHI in Japan and missiles specialist MBDA, which has a plant near Bolton.