StormFighter, GCAP and the shape of UK air power to 2030.
Brontanax is BAE Systems' industry answer to StormFighter — the newly-named RAF programme for a sovereign uncrewed teammate — and a deliberate bridge to the Tempest / GCAP crewed fighter of the next decade.
Sovereign UK Collaborative Combat Aircraft programme. Successor to the cancelled Project Mosquito. £300m committed in the UK Defence Investment Plan (FY2026–FY2030). Brontanax is BAE's candidate.
Sixth-generation crewed fighter developed by the UK, Japan and Italy. A separate £708m contract for BAE's GCAP work was announced around Farnborough 2026. Canada recently joined as an observer.
Earlier UK loyal-wingman effort with Team Mosquito, cancelled before StormFighter took shape. Provided the doctrinal groundwork for CCA.
Royal Navy effort within the MATX framework for a STOL uncrewed aircraft launchable from Queen Elizabeth-class carriers. BAE has hinted Brontanax could support this line of work.
- 2022Development begins
BAE quietly starts the Brontanax airframe within FalconWorks, evolving its earlier Concept 2 autonomous combat-air demonstrator.
- 2023Concept 2 at DSEI
Predecessor concept shown publicly at DSEI 2023, sketching the CCA path BAE is now walking.
- Jul 2026Farnborough reveal
Full-scale Brontanax model unveiled at FIA 2026 with Defence Secretary Wes Streeting; UK Defence Investment Plan commits £300m to the StormFighter programme.
- Q3 2026Power-on
First electrical power-on of the prototype targeted at Warton.
- H1 2027Ground trials
Ground testing including taxi trials.
- H2 2027First flight
First flight targeted, reportedly timed to NATO exercise Steadfast Defender 27, flying paired with a Typhoon.
- ~2029–30Into service
BAE and the MoD have publicly stated an in-service date "before the end of the decade".
- 2030sGCAP / Tempest
Longer-term integration with the crewed sixth-generation Tempest / GCAP fighter developed jointly with Japan and Italy.
Sources: BAE Systems press release, Breaking Defense, Shephard Media, Forces News.