BAE Systems has unveiled the UK’s first uncrewed autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow, a prototype named Brontanax designed to extend combat mass by complementing crewed aircraft at lower cost, the company stated.
The aircraft was designed and built by engineers at BAE Systems’ site in Warton, Lancashire, which the company describes as the home of the UK’s sovereign combat air industrial capability. According to BAE Systems, more than 500 of its employees have been involved in the aircraft’s development to date, working with over 75 large companies and SMEs from across the British aerospace sector.
🇬🇧 Meet Brontanax: BAE Systems has unveiled the UK’s first uncrewed autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft at Farnborough. Designed to fly alongside Typhoon and extend combat mass at lower cost, it’s set for ground testing at Warton ahead of a first flight next year. 🎥👇 pic.twitter.com/SKRTP1Yf4W
— UK Defence Journal (@UKDefJournal) July 22, 2026
Brontanax is intended to provide electronic warfare and precision strike capabilities against airborne and ground targets. Operating with frontline combat aircraft such as the Typhoon, the company says it will enhance combat mass and operational effectiveness, with planned availability to enter service before the end of the decade. Similar in size to a BAE Systems Hawk, the aircraft is designed to be operated by a Typhoon pilot or mission commander from range, allowing crewed and uncrewed aircraft to operate as a team. It has been developed with an open architecture and modular design that, according to the company, can be adapted as threats evolve.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said: “The unveiling of Brontanax, the UK’s first uncrewed autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft, is a testament to the extraordinary talent and innovation across our sovereign defence industry. Built at BAE Systems in Warton by British engineers, backed by British businesses large and small, this aircraft demonstrates that the UK has the skills, the technology and the determination to lead the world in combat air power. We’re investing £300 million in our StormFighter programme to develop an autonomous combat aircraft here in the UK. This launch shows the depth of industrial capability we have here in Britain to help deliver our ambition to become Europe’s first sixth generation air force.”
Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Sir Harv Smyth was quoted as saying: “The RAF is determined to become Europe’s first 6th Generation Air Force, driving innovation and accelerating the adoption of cutting-edge technology to stay ahead in an increasingly complex and contested battlespace. Working alongside BAE Systems, we are taking a major step towards that ambition, with a prototype expected to fly next year. Backed by £300 million through the Defence Investment Plan, our StormFighter programme is transforming future capability, while the launch of Brontanax, the UK’s first autonomous uncrewed Collaborative Combat Aircraft, shows how sovereign defence industry is delivering at pace to support us in being agile, integrated and ready to fly, fight and win.”
Simon Barnes, Group Managing Director of BAE Systems’ Air sector, was quoted as saying: “We recognise armed forces are being challenged to meet the demands of speed, adaptability and scale. Our Collaborative Combat Aircraft will provide the ability to extend the reach of crewed aircraft, generating greater combat mass at lower cost, while keeping pilots out of harm’s way. This capability represents a significant company investment in the UK’s future of air power and builds on our long-standing commitment to innovation. Alongside supporting defence priorities, it will strengthen the UK’s sovereign defence ecosystem by creating opportunities for SMEs, suppliers and partners across the country.”
The unveiling follows the publication of the government’s Defence Investment Plan, which confirmed a £300 million commitment to the StormFighter sovereign autonomous CCA programme, intended to provide the Royal Air Force with what the government describes as Europe’s first sixth generation capability. BAE Systems states that Brontanax builds on more than 25 years of company experience in uncrewed and autonomous systems, and has been developed through its FalconWorks team and funded to date through self-funded research and development. The company invested more than £400 million in self-funded R&D in 2025.
The prototype name is derived from the ancient Greek words for thunder and king. The aircraft is now being prepared for ground-based testing at Warton ahead of flight testing within UK airspace, which the company and the RAF expect to begin next year.
Perhaps HMG will get behind British industry this time. Cameron doomed Taranis which was incidentally a very successful program. Cameron doomed many thing in fact when money was free he and his chancellor went on an austerity drive. And destroyed much of the Brish defence sector. Allowing foreign predators to buy critical industry for peanuts
Silly name, but a very good project and BAE’s video shows it taking off from an aircraft carrier over the ramp which is nice.
I wonder if this is the jet powered drone that the First Sea Lord said would be taking off from a QE carrier in 2026.
It would not surprise me, there seems to be a level of alignment.
The name is terrible. 😢
Apparently it means “King of Thunder” in Ancient Greek. Which is sad, because we could just call it “Thunor” which is the Old English god of thunder. Or indeed, “Thunder” which could fly with our Lightnings…
Such craft as these must result in huge savings in personnel training, infrastructure and in-service expenditure. With autonomous weapon systems reduction in personnel could be significant, though initially the transition will probably be sobering as some fail to achieve objectives whilst others make significant steps to crewless systems. If one looks at an average RAF station and its infrastructure based on conventional operations, they are huge and a considerable amount of acreage is required for housing. Future bases could be more compact and easier to transport using remote vertical drones and F35B’s operating from makeshift bases, without the footprint of a typical station. The Harrier was built around the ‘shoot and scoot’ principles now vital for the RA, and these ideas could form part of future vertical drone operations. Obviously, the Brontanax will require a runway; this could also be a motorway or appropriate open space. Pop-up air bases could be an additional option for the RAF to develop thanks to the rapidly developing drone technology.
Motorway service stations. Or, on A roads, who fancies a Little Chef?
The support crew can stay at the Travel Lodge.
Has it come from Jurrasic Park? A dinosaur was the first thing that entered my mind seeing that name.
Ironic, given how cutting edge this must be.
Just call it a Raptor and be done with it, though I think that names been taken?
Seems they’re going with ancient Greek. Google says it means Thunder King.
It’s encouraging to see industry taking the initiative and producing products, certainly gives the MoD more choice.
Could the quick reaction force be one of the first to go unmanned, at least in part? I can imagine a few of these on a runway waiting for a digital order and taking off several minutes before a Typhoon is ready.
Not for me.
If you mean QRA, they also need to establish contact with errant aircraft flying into the UKADR who are not responding, possibly including hijacked ones.
So a pilot is useful for proper visual inspections, signalling an aircraft, and taking instructions from “London” to shoot it down if a minister makes that decision.
An autonomous machine doing it?
In all out war yes these are useful, but QRA, and a military, need to respond to other situations.
And several minutes for a Typhoon, they’re quicker than that!
You make good points, it’s why I caveated my post by saying it’s replacement could be ‘in part’. I could imagine drones being stationed further north, for example an outer Scottish island and intercepting a Russian bomber faster than a Typhoon. If it’s simply a case of escorting it as a precaution then surely the Typhoon can go home? Saves airframe hours at the least.
Sure mate, that was noted. 👍
I wonder whether those of us (myself included) who’ve been calling for more Typhoons to be bought have been wrong and that this is the quickest and most effective route to greater combat mass.
This looks great but the major question is, is it real or just another BAE model?
I suspect it’s another model looking for a few billion to produce another tech demonstration. Hope I’m wrong but I just don’t think BAE is cut out for CCA’s just like Lockheed and other defence primes keep falling on their face with these. They have no interest in any aircraft that’s not a $100million + because it threatens their main business of making $100million + aircraft.
If BAE did get its finger out and build this then there is probably a massive market and they could be the first outside the USA offering something.
A UK only developed CCA able to do electronic warfare and strike missions could be the kind of defence industrial program Andy Burnham is looking to invest in. I just have a hard time believing the MoD is willing to part with the cash instead of funnelling it into some favoured niche capability the Americans want. I also have doubts that BAE can deliver. It’s too cosy being a sub contractor.
It’s a real airframe. They unveiled the actual, flying model at Farnborough, apparently first flight is expected next year for participation in NATO exercises.
The thing about this is are they going to be looking at the future best way to run squadrons..
At present the structure is separate drone and manned fighter squadrons, but in the future with drones becoming the wingman of a crewed fighter will be see squadrons becoming a mix of Drone and crewed fighters..
So no more a squadron of 12ish crewed fighters jets and a separate set of drone squadrons but a number of crewed fighters ( say 6 for argument) with 12 Drones..
I also wonder if we could see a return of the 2 seater front line fighter.. after all 2 heads can control a bigger fleet of drones and have better awareness.
Which is why I asked about Tempest possibly being a 2 seater.
I wonder if the RAF won’t be able to resist doubling the Sqn list!
Yes I do wonder if it will end up as such.. when you consider its endurance and the complexity of running it and a fleet of drones and all their weapons and inputs over a long time period… two brains is better.. even if it allows one brain to stand down for 10 mins.
Dear MoD
When awarding the StormFighter contract, please bear in mind the following lessons learned:
if you award it to an American contractor, you will be waiting forever to have your own weapons integrated onto the platform; but
if you specify a US weapons fit you will find yourself at the back of the queue when the American scramble to replenish all the inventory they have expended on their latest strategic blunder.