UK designates Storm Fighter drone wingman to fly with Typhoon, F-35, and Tempest

Published Jul 17, 03:26 PM UTC

The United Kingdom has officially designated its Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) drone wingman program as the Storm Fighter, aiming to create Europe's first sixth-generation air force. Announced by UK Minister of State for Defense Luke Pollard at the Global Air and Space Chiefs Conference on July 16, 2026, the Storm Fighter will serve as both a 'guardian angel' and 'attack dog' for crewed fighters like the Typhoon, F-35, and future Tempest. The program is part of a broader $6.6 billion drone initiative under the UK's Defense Investment Plan, which increases defense spending to 3% of GDP. Additionally, Chief of Air Staff Air Chief Marshal Harv Smyth unveiled two supporting drone designs: Storm Chrome, an electronic warfare platform, and Storm Fire, a one-way attack drone with a 1,000-mile range. These build on the operational Storm Shroud drone, which entered RAF service in 2025. The UK aims to field an operational CCA capability before the end of the decade.