Luke Pollard unveils Storm Fighter as the Royal Air Force's new autonomous collaborative combat aircraft program

Luke Pollard, the U.K. minister for defense readiness and industry, has officially named the Royal Air Force's new autonomous collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) program "Storm Fighter." The initiative aims to establish the Royal Air Force as Europe’s first sixth-generation air force by deploying uncrewed aircraft to operate alongside crewed jets. The administration announced that Storm Fighter will serve as both a "guardian angel" and an "attack dog" for the Typhoon, F-35, and the future Tempest jets. The program is funded by a £406 million investment included in the recently published Defence Investment Plan. While the formal requirements are still being finalized, major contractors such as BAE Systems and Boeing have already expressed interest in the project. Pollard emphasized that the goal is to maximize air power in a future combat environment swarming with drones and electronic warfare capabilities. The program follows the cancellation of Project Mosquito, signaling a renewed commitment to fielding affordable, high-volume autonomous platforms to enhance lethality and survivability.

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