The UK will return to developing a combat drone for the sixth-generation Tempest fighter after the Mosquito program closes

The United Kingdom will make a new attempt to create a combat unmanned aerial vehicle.

Here's What We Know

The UK Ministry of Defense is trying to attract companies to develop inexpensive unmanned aerial systems that would work together with fighter jets. The ministry wants the new drone to be able to function in tandem with aircrafts of three generations at once: Eurofighter Typhoon, F-35B Lightning II, and Tempest (a promising sixth-generation fighter). The company BAE Systems is working on the development of the latter. It is expected to be ready in 2035.

Currently there is no information about the new project. The UK Ministry of Defense emphasizes that the program will be interesting to companies that specialize in the development and production of drones, propulsion systems, navigation, communication systems and electronic warfare systems. More details will be available Nov. 29.

Note that the United Kingdom's Ministry of Defence has spent several months developing a drone that would work with three generations of fighters, including the next. The work was carried out within the framework of the Mosquito program.

In early 2021, Spirit AeroSystems Belfast, Northrop Grumman UK and Intrepid Minds received funding of £30 million to build the drone. The first drone flight was scheduled for 2023, but the project was closed in the summer of 2022 due to the availability of more affordable alternatives.

Source: bidstats