BAE Systems has unveiled its new unmanned fighter drone, dubbed 'Thunder King' and officially named Brontanax, intended to operate as a collaborative combat aircraft (CCA) alongside Royal Air Force (RAF) jets. An initial version of the aircraft is slated to take to the skies next year, with the drone capable of carrying lethal missiles for both airborne and ground targets.
The Brontanax, approximately the size of a Hawk training jet, is designed to function as a "loyal wingman" to pilots of existing Typhoon fighter jets. This new combat model envisions manned aircraft being accompanied by up to four drones, enhancing their operational capabilities in contested airspace.
The development of Brontanax is a project that began in 2022, with BAE Systems investing £400 million in its creation. A fully assembled aircraft has already been produced at the company's Warton plant in Lancashire. BAE Systems aims for the drone to enter service by the end of the decade.
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting unveiled the Brontanax at the Farnborough Airshow, describing the moment as "groundbreaking." The UK government has committed £300 million to the "Storm Fighter" program, aimed at developing domestic CCAs, and Streeting confirmed that Brontanax will serve as the prototype for this initiative. The first flight is anticipated in 2027.
Air Marshal Sir Harv Smyth, head of the RAF, emphasized the importance of air control in an increasingly complex world. Sir Gerry Mayhew, a senior military advisor at BAE, stated that the drone addresses current operational threats and will enable a "sixth generation" model of fighting sooner, ahead of the Tempest fighters expected in 2035.
BAE Systems indicated that the Brontanax is not merely a prototype but an operational platform that will evolve after its initial flight within the next 12 months. The company plans to demonstrate the collaborative capability of Typhoon and CCA during NATO's "Steadfast Defender" exercise next year. Ground trials are scheduled to commence in the first half of next year, followed by flight trials at an RAF site in the latter half. David Holmes of BAE highlighted this as an opportunity for the UK to prove its ability to fly an autonomous uncrewed platform of this scale within UK airspace. Regarding the use of lethal force by unmanned aircraft, Holmes confirmed that any such deployment would adhere to government regulations.