Rendering of U.K. loyal wingman drone. Photo Credit: UK MOD
According to a report from the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), the U.K. expects to have a prototype loyal wingman-type unmanned aircraft in the air by 2023. The announcement also says that a £30-million contract for the aircraft had been placed with Northern Ireland-based Spirit AeroSystems, which will design and manufacture the Royal Air Force’s Lightweight Affordable Novel Combat Aircraft (LANCA) concept in its new role at the head of Project MOSQUITO, an effort to develop drones capable of working together semi-autonomously with manned aircraft. The deal will be supporting more than 100 jobs in Belfast, Ireland.