The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that take a look at flights of latest uncrewed programs in Australia and the USA are being intently adopted by the UK, although procurement decisions stay tied to its personal Strategic Defence Overview and funding plan.
Conservative MP Ben Overweight-Jecty tabled three written questions on 19 September asking in regards to the implications of allied programmes: the Royal Australian Air Drive’s Boeing MQ-28 Ghost Bat, the US Navy’s MQ-25 Stingray refuelling drone, and Basic Atomics’ YFQ-42.
Responding, Defence Minister Luke Pollard didn’t present assessments of particular person platforms however as a substitute pointed again to the federal government’s long-term transformation agenda. He mentioned the Strategic Defence Overview (SDR) had “set out the pathway for the subsequent decade and past to remodel Defence,” with a selected emphasis on classes from Ukraine. In response to Pollard, these classes underscored the necessity to “harness drones, knowledge, and digital warfare to make our Armed Forces stronger and safer.”
The SDR identifies uncrewed programs as a direct precedence for the RAF, recommending a broad mixture of capabilities moderately than reliance on a single platform. Pollard highlighted a £2 billion funding into autonomy throughout this Parliament and confirmed the creation of a brand new Defence Uncrewed Techniques Centre, attributable to attain preliminary working functionality by February 2026.
He harassed that the element of future acquisitions just isn’t but finalised: “The precise kinds of uncrewed programs to be procured and the related funding will probably be decided as a part of the Defence Funding Plan.”
Whether or not requested about Australia’s Ghost Bat, the US Stingray tanker drone, or Basic Atomics’ YFQ-42, the minister averted singling out overseas programs as direct fashions for UK procurement. As a substitute, he framed them as a part of a wider context through which allies are additionally investing in autonomy, whereas Britain works to develop its personal built-in method.