Update: MoD announces Project ‘Mosquito' contracts to develop unmanned technologies for fast jets

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) has announced a series of contracts to develop unmanned capabilities on fast jets.

‘Loyal wingmen’ of swarming unmanned aircraft are increasingly being seen as a viable option for defeating enemy air-defence systems, and the UK is looking to field such a concept operationally through Project ‘Mosquito’ being undertaken as part of its wider LANCA programme. (Crown Copyright)

Announced at the Royal International Air Tattoo (RIAT) at Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairford in Gloucestershire, the RAF’s Rapid Capabilities Office (RCO) awarded three contracts to develop a technology demonstrator, named Project ‘Mosquito’, to explore the addition of unmanned ‘loyal wingman’ capabilities onto fast jets.

“At the launch of the Combat Air Strategy last year, the MoD revealed the concept future fighter jet Tempest. The vision of the jet featured advanced flexible power and propulsion systems, a virtual cockpit, swarming weapons, and laser-directed energy weapons. Operated either manned or unmanned, it would be rapidly upgradeable and cyber resilient. Following on from last year’s announcement, a new project to develop a novel unmanned combat aircraft has been announced by the RAF and the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory [Dstl],” Defence Minister Stuart Andrew said on 19 July.

The three Project ‘Mosquito’ contracts have been awarded under the wider Lightweight Affordable Novel Combat Aircraft (LANCA) programme and involve Blue Bear Systems Research, Boeing Defence UK, and Callen-Lenz (Team Blackdawn, partnered with Bombardier Belfast and Northrop Grumman UK).