As part of the newly signed Trinity House Agreement, the UK and Germany are set to collaborate on the development of advanced Uncrewed Aerial Systems (UAS) and maritime drones.
This joint effort aims to ensure interoperability between future combat air systems and strengthen military cooperation across multiple domains. The landmark agreement, signed by UK Defence Secretary John Healey MP and German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius, highlights both nations’ commitment to advancing their capabilities in unmanned air systems and future connectivity.
According to the joint statement from the two nations, “The UK and Germany will work jointly, in close co-ordination with Allies and partners, to develop and employ Uncrewed Aerial and Offboard Air Systems to ensure interoperability between Future Combat Air Systems.” This will involve the integration of common missile systems into drone fleets, such as the Brimstone missile, and sharing plans to develop interoperable offboard systems.
The agreement sets both short- and medium-term goals. In the short term, the two nations will focus on enhancing precision strike capabilities, with the integration of missile systems like the UK’s Brimstone into uncrewed air systems. As the joint statement explains, this involves “joint integration of common missile systems into drone fleets to enhance precision strike capabilities, drawing benefit from each nation’s previous experience.”
In the medium term, the partnership will focus on “joint exploration and development of cross-system Combat Cloud capabilities across aircraft fleets,” which would allow data sharing and seamless operation between both crewed and uncrewed systems. Additionally, new maritime uncrewed air systems will be developed to improve naval operations, further strengthening the interoperability between the UK and Germany’s forces.
The Trinity House Agreement also underscores the importance of aligning with NATO standards, with the joint statement highlighting the need to “support implementation of NATO-agreed common standards to ensure connectivity and collaboration between fighter aircraft, reinforcing inter-generation and (un)crewed teaming.”
This collaboration on drone technology represents a significant step forward in UK-German defence relations. Defence Secretary John Healey hailed the agreement, stating, “It secures unprecedented levels of new cooperation with the German Armed Forces and industry, bringing benefits to our shared security and prosperity.” Similarly, German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius noted, “We will jointly increase our defence capabilities, thereby strengthening the European pillar within NATO.”
So what happens when the UK wants to use them or send them to say Ukraine?
If they would just let the Ukraine forces fight with both hands it would be over a lot quicker and the policy of trying to contain it has failed miserably.
The involvement of NK cannot go unanswered .
Letting Storm Shadow and ATACM off the leash would be a good start. Providing funds and materials to expand Ukraines own advanced missile production would also greatly shorten the conflict.
So we are now the lead developer on the only manned 6th gen aircraft in the world under active deployment and we just removed the main partner from FCAS to work on drones with us instead of France.
None of this seems to tie in with the narrative I keep reading of the UK being a diminished power bla blah blah.
Perhaps we can all stop talking about TSR2 being the end of the UK aviation sector😀
Would be great if something comes from it.
I’ll keep my hopes in check I’m afraid till there is something more than just politics at work.
Jim just for once I sort of agree with but from a slightly different slant. Simple fact is we have been building joint aircraft with Germany for 4 decades and overall it’s worked (most of the time). Where we are a great standalone power is in our ability to be nice to France on one hand and quietly undermine them on the other. It’s nice to see “La Perfide Albion” is alive and well, it’s also about the only cross party skill both the Tories and Labour agree on (AUKUS / SSN and now Drones / Missiles). I would love… Read more »
Agreed, one thing I think it’s important to note is that it’s the UK leading all the developments, that has been pretty clear after we left FCAS and then brought others like Japan in while France continues to flounder. The UK is at the heart of every major international collaboration they USA and France are completely uselsss as these international collaborations We should start giving ourselves some credit instead of hanging our collective heads in shame that we are some form of lesser power for not doing solo projects. The fact is we are the very best in the world… Read more »
“the very best”….lol nothing of worth has come out of Britain in the last decade or two…armament wise it’s all been procured from the US
Frankly any partnership with the Germans rings alarm bells in my head. They caused an enormous amount of mischief with Typhoon which cost substantial time and money, they are the Polar opposite to the Japanese and the Italians to work with. To the best of my knowledge, according to a friend who works in French Avaition, FCAS is still alive although France and Germany are worlds apart on capability, work share etc and frankly I don’t want them involved in Tempest, unless it is on take it or leave it basis, they could set the project back years when the… Read more »
Marmite
Sorry, I meant this joint effort, It’s like Marmite, you either love it or hate it.
I got the reference although some non Brits might not.
They had better get the paperwork right.
I agree on Germany and I woukd keep them a million mikes form Tempest, I woukd be prepared to develop drone with them especially if this puts a wedge between them and the French in FCAS. If you knock out FCAS yiu double the exports for Tempest it’s that simple. With the Germans buying F35 they don’t want a manned FCAS anyway. Just have to make sure the supply chain for what ever we jointly develop is outside of Germany but that can be done. On TSR 2, No one bought F111 in big numbers, few bought Tornado, people have… Read more »
I agree about the Germans not being part of the Tempest partnership and I doubt the Japanese would allow it. I disagree about them wanting an unmanned FCAS because of the F35. Nor do I think it will drive a wedge between the French and the Germans, the deal does not specify a loyal wingman . A crucial component in all these 6th gen programs but one that is never mentioned. On TSR 2 we will agree to disagree, many aircraft designs have never been in combat but are successful aircraft none the less. Nobody bought the F111 for a… Read more »
Isn’t there still one next gen program in America? I know the navy or Air Force cancelled it.
And SCAF
There are two sixth generation fighter programs in development in the US – The USAF and USN. The USAF has not canceled NGAD and has two, maybe three prototypes already in flight. The USAF plans to deploy a sixth generation fighter but is concerned about cost and is re-evaluating just how much it can afford. The US is about ten years ahead of Tempest, which, by the way, is a fifth generation, not a sixth generation fighter.
The USAF was maybe 6 or 7 years ahead of the UK before the recent rethink. It remains to be seen what dividing the per-unit budget by three does to their program.
I’ve heard US commentators say that Tempest and SCAF are really only 5th gen, but that’s nonsense. System of systems, virtual cockpits, adaptive engines, what do you think Tempest will be lacking that will mark out NGAD as a generation ahead? Or maybe I should say what will mark out what’s left of NGAD.
Interesting that you say Tempest is 5th gen not 6th, can you clarify that please, I was under the understanding that Tempest was very much a 6th gen aircraft.
Active Deployment ? Did you mean Active development ? I think the US and Franco German projects are also active in their development to some degree but we are far from having an actual deployment.
Sorry yes development, neither the USA or France are in active development, they are both at technology maturation phases.
We are literally building a prototype now.
The supporting drones for SCAF and GCAP will now likely be compatible even if the manned jets are very different. I think this was always a theoretical goal, but now there’s a mechanism: German join involvement.
France already has a drone program with the Rafale F5
The UK already operates the Protector uas and the maritime surveillance version, the Sea Guardian is in operation worldwide and is well regarded. So we are now going to reinvent the wheel in order to butter up the Germans at the cost of millions of pounds from the defence budget.
This doesn’t sound like a new drone, just like the air defence stuff isn’t necessarily a new system.
It’s more about increasing commonality and the ability to work together operationally.
The new maritime drone is a bit odd, maybe a joint programme for SeaGuardian with European systems?
sounds like the Germans want to place the Eurodrone for maritime, afterall it was them that insisted on expensive twin engine.
GOOD, but please let’s not take years working out endless detail.
How long until we admit them to Tempest or their project and our project get merged ?
Then we will see the usual Germany. Promising to order hundreds to get workshare, then cutting the order.
Exactly why if they did join Tempest , it must be on take it or leave it basis.
Given the Japanese mentality, they will not be up to the standard German games especially as the project is progressing nicely on time and budget.
We (UK) cut our order of Tornado and Typhoon too.🤔
and F35
But then, we’ve been known to do that as well.
Wasn’t project Teranis merged with France a few years back ? Nothing really came of that even though it was at the time deemed to be the future.
Taranis became NeuRon, which is well on its way to equip the Rafale F5 variant
Or we could finish off Taranis – which was the output of the last UK/FR collaboration that ended up with nothing for the UK to show, whilst France seem to have pursued the Taranis design further.
I’m guessing some tech and lessons learned will filter down to Tempest though. There was some rather interesting airflow talk.