RAF's autonomous fighter programme named Storm Fighter as CAS warns a storm is coming

The RAF’s autonomous fighter jets programme has been named Storm Fighter and described as acting as both a "guardian angel and an attack dog" for the UK’s Typhoons, F-35s and future Tempest jets.

Speaking to delegates at the Global Air and Space Chiefs Conference in London, the Defence Readiness & Industry Minister Luke Pollard said: "I'm delighted to unveil that our new autonomous CCA programme will be named Storm Fighter.

"It will make the RAF Europe’s first sixth-generation air force."

• Army Apaches, RAF jets and Navy warships all set to be boosted by £5bn drone plan
• RAF Typhoons now hunting for drones in the skies over Bahrain as Iran war rages
• Rapid Sentry: The RAF Regiment's missile system that's used to shoot down drones

Storm Chrome and Storm Fire

The Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth, also announced an expansion of the Storm series, including the new Storm Chrome electronic warfare drone and the RAF Regiment's new 1,000 mile one-way attack drone, the Storm Fire.

"We aspire to spiral and expand at pace our new Storm series of capabilities to remain ahead of the adversary and stay lockstep with today's and tomorrow’s rapid technology development," he said.

"This integrated system of Typhoons, F-35s and a number of other systems will be a key part of our future."

Storm was very much the word of the day, with the CAS beginning his speech with a warning that it feels like "a storm is brewing and very much heading our way".

He also referenced the friends, partners and allies in the audience, describing them as "people I may have to fight alongside in the very near future".

"Many of you have travelled long distances to get here, so let us not waste this opportunity with polite discussion. Let this conference be the catalyst for bolder debate, deeper integration, faster acquisition and braver innovation," ACM Sir Harv added. 

Six new space squadrons 

There was another big announcement on space capability, with the head of the RAF telling the conference: "If we wish to control the skies, we obviously must first master the cosmos."

He revealed that the UK will "reset our defence space strategy with a prime focus to space control, enabled by the establishment of six new space squadrons and a new additional Space Defence Centre, and the creation of our first-ever Techniques, Applications and Processes Laboratory, or a TAP Lab, delivered in partnership with our civil space colleagues."

ACM Sir Harv also shared his personal ambition to see this located "right in the heart of UK’s world-leading space industry" at Harwell in Oxfordshire.

Mr Pollard described this as a UK first, saying: "We’ve established a new space systems group under the National Armaments Director to deliver additional capabilities in the space domain that helps enable activities across all domains, including in a UK first, offensive space capabilities that will be operated by six new specialist space squadrons trained at the Defence Space Academy alongside allies and international partners."

While the CAS told delegates a storm may be coming, he added: "We are well-set to weather this storm and indeed create a storm all of our own if required."