Britain’s Mosquito Wingman Drone Could Fly With the F-35 This Decade
As a loyal wingman drone, the Mosquito will support the aircraft to which it is attached in a wide range of combat, reconnaissance, electronic warfare, and surveillance roles.
Even as the United Kingdom forges ahead with F-35B fighter procurement plans and an ambitious project for a home-grown next-generation fighter, London is also quietly building an advanced loyal wingman combat drone.
Air Chief Marshal Mike Wigston gave a comprehensive interview to Defense News earlier this week. In it, he discussed London’s procurement strategy into the coming decades and shed light on the ongoing controversy surrounding the UK’s F-35 fleet size. Toward the end of the interview, Wigston was asked about the UK’s Mosquito loyal wingman drone program. Wigston explained that both the Tempest fighter and the Mosquito project are part of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS), which he described as “a mix of piloted combat aircraft, of unpiloted or autonomous or remotely piloted combat aircraft, and then down to cheap, expendable drones all working together.” Wigston added that, while the Tempest fighter is expected to reach initial operating capability in the late 2030s, he believes that the Mosquito drone can enter service as soon as “this decade.”

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