A radar-jamming drone that will fly ahead of crewed fighters on missions to disable enemy air defences has been launched by Britain’s Royal Air Force.
Drawing on lessons learned from the war in Ukraine, StormShroud has been introduced to the front lines at “an unprecedented pace” to meet the growing threat from Russia, the UK Ministry of Defence said.
The weapon is based on the Tekever AR3 and AR5 drones, which have already seen combat in Ukraine, and has been fitted with a BriteStorm signal jammer that scrambles enemy radar at long ranges.
In what the RAF described as “revolutionary new tactics”, the unmanned drones will support fighters such as the Typhoon and F-35 Lightning by jamming enemy radar, allowing the combat aircraft to strike targets without being detected.
“This means, for the first time, the RAF will benefit from high-end electronic warfare without needing crew to man it, freeing them up for other vital frontline missions,” the RAF said.
StormShroud is a “ground-breaking, first-of-its-kind drone” that will make the RAF’s combat aircraft “more survivable and more lethal”, it added.
It is the first in a family of next-generation drones—known as Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACPs)—being delivered to the RAF.
Using “operational feedback from Ukraine”, where battlefield innovation has accelerated significantly, the BriteStorm electronic warfare technology, made by Leonardo UK, has been integrated onto the Tekever drones.
“This is a seminal moment for the RAF to maintain our advantage in air combat and national security,” said Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton, Chief of the Air Staff. ACP drones “will revolutionise how we conduct a range of missions”, from intelligence gathering to strike and logistical support, he added.
Tekever, a British-Portuguese tech company, now plans to manufacture the drones in the UK, investing a further £400 million ($531.7 million) over the next five years. Working with Leonardo, it took six months to develop the new weapon.
“Together with our allies, this government is taking the bold action needed to stand up to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin and ruthlessly protect UK and European security,” said UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
