Overview
- Defence Minister Luke Pollard publicly renamed the programme Storm Fighter on July 16, signalling a formal start to the UK’s Collaborative Combat Aircraft effort to develop autonomous 'loyal wingman' drones.
- The MOD says Storm Fighter will help Integrated Air and Missile Defence through the 2030s and the Royal Navy and RAF are jointly shaping requirements for the programme.
- RAF leadership announced at least two candidate designs: Storm Chrome for electronic attack and Storm Fire, described as a one‑way long‑range attack drone with an estimated 1,000‑mile reach.
- The Defence Investment Plan has provided initial funding reported at about £300 million and sets a demonstrator target of 'by at least 2030,' although RAF chiefs have pushed for earlier flight trials.
- Storm Fighter builds on the operational StormShroud electronic‑warfare drone introduced last year and ties into wider industrial work on the Global Combat Air Programme that aims to support exports, jobs and carrier or maritime variants.