King of the skies: Brontanax 'loyal wingman' drone unveiled at Farnborough Airshow

The UK's first uncrewed autonomous aircraft has been unveiled at the Farnborough International Airshow. 

Brontanax, derived from the Ancient Greek words for thunder and king, is the UK's first Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) designed to support piloted aircraft with electronic warfare and precision-strike capabilities.

The unveiling by BAE Systems followed the naming of the RAF's autonomous fighter jets programme. StormFighter has been described as acting as both a "guardian angel and an attack dog" for the UK's Typhoons, F-35s and future Tempest jets. 

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The prototype is expected to fly next year, with planned availability to enter service before the end of the decade.  

Delivering at pace 

Speaking at the Farnborough International Airshow, 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."

The announcement follows the recently published Defence Investment Plan, which included a £15bn boost to defence spending.

Also announced was a £708m contract awarded to BAE Systems to continue development on a next-generation combat aircraft as part of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).

A joint initiative between the UK, Japan and Italy to develop the sixth-generation Tempest, it was recently announced that Canada will become the first observer nation of the programme. 

Fly, fight, win 

Chief of the Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth said the RAF is determined to become Europe's first sixth generation air force, "driving innovation and accelerating the adoption of cutting-edge technology to stay ahead in an increasingly complex and contested battlespace". 

He added that CCA show how "sovereign defence industry is delivering at pace to support us in being agile, integrated and ready to fly, fight and win".