United Kingdom launched the Royal Air
Force’s new Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) programme, Storm Fighter
¨
United Kingdom launched
the Royal Air Force’s new Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) programme, Storm
Fighter, on 16 July 2026.
¨
The programme aims to
develop autonomous loyal wingman drones that will operate alongside crewed
combat aircraft such as the Typhoon, F-35, and the future Tempest fighter.
¨
Collaborative Combat
Aircraft (CCA) are uncrewed aircraft designed to work with manned fighter
aircraft in combat operations.
¨
These aircraft can extend
sensor range, carry weapons, conduct electronic attacks, and act as decoys for
crewed fighter jets.
¨
The Storm Fighter
programme is funded through a £300 million allocation under the United
Kingdom’s Defence Investment Plan, published on 2 July 2026.
¨
The programme was
announced by Luke Pollard, Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, at the
Air & Space Power Association Global Air and Space Chiefs’ Conference in
London.
¨
The programme includes
concepts such as Storm Chrome, designed for electronic attack, and Storm Fire,
a one-way attack drone.
¨
Storm Fire is expected to
have an operational range of up to 1,000 miles.
¨ The programme builds on StormShroud, an autonomous drone that entered service in May 2025.
¨ It also follows the cancellation of Project Mosquito in 2022, marking the UK's renewed approach to autonomous combat aircraft development.
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