BAE Systems unveils Brontanax autonomous loyal wingman mock-up at Farnborough

BAE Systems unveiled a full-scale mock-up of its Brontanax autonomous strike plane at the Farnborough International Air Show, New Atlas reported. The company bills it as Britain's first home-designed uncrewed autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft. Brontanax is a medium-scale autonomous wingman designed to operate alongside crewed aircraft such as the Eurofighter Typhoon and the Tempest under the Storm Fighter program. With a modular design, it can be configured as a missile platform, sensor extension, electronic warfare aircraft, or precision ground attack asset for air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, operating autonomously or under direction from a fighter or ground command. BAE has released few performance particulars beyond saying the aircraft is about the size of a Hawk trainer. Brontanax is undergoing ground testing and is expected to begin flight tests in 2027, with deployment aimed at about 2030. Chief of the Air Staff Air Marshal Sir Harv Smyth said the RAF is determined to become Europe's first 6th Generation Air Force and that a prototype is expected to fly next year. He said the Storm Fighter program is backed by £300 million through the Defence Investment Plan.