According to the Ministry of Defence (MoD) the uncrewed combat aircraft will be designed to fly alongside fighter jets and will be armed with missiles, surveillance and electronic warfare technology. The so-called ‘loyal wingman’ will be the UK’s first uncrewed aircraft that can target and shoot down enemy aircraft and survive against surface-to-air missiles.
In a statement, Air Chief Marshal Mike Wigston, Chief of the Air Staff said: “We’re taking a revolutionary approach, looking at a game-changing mix of swarming drones and uncrewed fighter aircraft like Mosquito, alongside piloted fighters like Tempest, that will transform the combat battlespace in a way not seen since the advent of the jet age.”
The UK’s first fleet of uncrewed fighter aircraft is one step closer to reality following a £30-million contract to design and manufacture a prototype in a three-year deal supporting more than 100 jobs in Belfast.