The Royal Air Force (RAF) has unveiled its first pilotless fighter jet, codenamed StormFighter, marking a significant step towards an era of aviation without pilots. This autonomous aircraft is designed to augment and eventually take over from manned aircraft such as the Typhoon, F-35, and Tempest.
StormFighter is expected to achieve performance capabilities comparable to current fighter jets, reaching supersonic speeds of Mach 1.6 and capable of deploying precision-guided munitions like JDAM and Paveway bombs. The jet is slated to conduct joint operations alongside manned aircraft by 2030.
Minister for Defence Readiness Luke Pollard announced an initial £300 million in development funding for StormFighter at the Global Air and Space Chiefs Conference. He stated that the RAF is "maximising our air power in the eye of the storm of future combat, that will be swarming with drones, sixth generation fighter jets and ever evolving Electronic Warfare capabilities." Pollard added that the new autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) will provide "new levels of lethality and survivability for our crewed jets, acting as both guardian angel and as an attack dog."
Major aviation manufacturers, including BAE Systems and Boeing, are anticipated to compete for the contract to produce the stealth fighter. The unmanned jet is expected to be faster to build and cheaper than its manned counterparts.
According to Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth, the RAF's most senior officer, unmanned jets are expected to prove their capability by next year and enter service by the end of the decade. The accelerated introduction of these platforms is informed by lessons learned from the conflict in Ukraine.
Funds initially planned for the 2030s have been allocated to StormFighter within the recent Defence Investment Plan (DIP) for RAF expenditure over the next four years. This move reflects a broader strategic shift by the RAF towards unmanned platforms to match or surpass manned aircraft flown by potential adversaries.
Should StormFighter prove successful, it may also be adapted for take-off and landing from Royal Navy aircraft carriers, offering a more cost-effective alternative to the current F-35 fleet.
The development comes as advancements in artificial intelligence have significantly propelled the technology forward, overcoming challenges that led to the abandonment of previous RAF unmanned aircraft projects in their early stages.
Historically, the RAF's early fighter pilots, known as the '20-minuters' during World War I due to their short average air time over France before being shot down, faced extreme danger with rudimentary aircraft and high casualty rates. In contrast, the Battle of Britain saw pilots hailed as heroes for their crucial role. The StormFighter program signifies a future where such human intervention in fighter aviation may be significantly reduced.