UK to double armed-ISR aircraft with ‘Venom kinetic strike capability'

The UK is to arm additional airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) platforms under a programme known as the ‘Venom kinetic strike capability’, the Secretary of State for Defence said on 11 February.

The Reaper UAV (pictured) is currently the UK’s only armed airborne ISR platform. While the MoD declined to tell Jane’s which platforms might be armed under the Venom kinetic strike capability, media reports have suggested a special forces slant to the initiative with both the C-130J and Shadow aircraft being cited as potential candidates. (Crown Copyright)

Speaking at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) in London, Gavin Williamson said that the Royal Air Force (RAF) will double its armed ISR capability under the initiative, although he provided no further details.

“The RAF will double [its] armed ISR capability so we can identify and neutralise targets far faster. The Venom kinetic strike capability will mean those who wish to do us harm have more to fear,” Williamson said.

In response to a request for comment, a Ministry of Defence (MoD) spokesperson told Jane’s , “Venom kinetic strike capability is [a] programme under development to increase the lethality of ISR platforms. The name Venom used is aligned to a programme and not necessarily a weapon.” The spokesperson added that the MoD is unlikely to release any additional information related to the programme, which is largely classified.

The RAF’s airborne ISR fleet currently comprises six Boeing E-3D Sentry AEW1 Airborne Warning And Control System (AWACS) aircraft; four Raytheon Sentinel R1s; five Raytheon Shadow R1s; three L-3 RC-135W Airseekers; and 10 General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Of these, only the Reapers are armed.