Wes Streeting has condemned a live-fire Russian military exercise 40 nautical miles off the UK coast as 'performative and irresponsible' – while simultaneously hailing the unveiling of a new British-made drone as a 'groundbreaking moment for UK defence'.
The new defence secretary criticised a Russian warship that carried out a live-fire exercise around 46 miles from the British coast, calling the manoeuvre a needless provocation. Hours later, at the Farnborough air show, Streeting stood beside the Brontanax, an unmanned fighter jet designed and built in Lancashire by BAE Systems.
“Streeting condemns Russian live-fire drill 46 miles off UK coast while unveiling Brontanax drones set to fly in 2027”
Described as a Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) or 'loyal wingman', the drone is operated by a pilot from range and expected to cost roughly a third as much as a traditional fighter jet. 'We will adopt this as our operational concept demonstrator, and we're going to get it in the air in 2027,' Streeting said. 'This is a groundbreaking moment for UK defence, not just for air power, but for reindustrialisation.'
BAE Systems said the aircraft is now being prepared for ground-based testing at Warton prior to flight testing within UK airspace. Streeting added: 'The unveiling of Brontanax, the UK's first uncrewed autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft, is a testament to the extraordinary talent and innovation across our sovereign defence industry. Built at BAE Systems in Warton by British engineers, backed by British businesses large and small, this aircraft demonstrates that the UK has the skills, the technology and the determination to lead the world in combat air power.'
The government is investing £300 million in the StormFighter programme to develop an autonomous combat aircraft, while also extending a contract with BAE Systems by £708 million to continue developing a next generation combat aircraft as part of the Global Combat Air Programme. Richard Berthon, the MoD’s director of future combat air, said: 'This £708 million investment demonstrates the UK’s continued commitment to maintaining a world-leading combat air capability.'
The announcements follow the recently published defence investment plan which included a £15 billion boost to defence spending. Separately, business secretary Jonathan Reynolds visited Farnborough to unveil a £600 million package to back British aerospace. Prime minister Andy Burnham also released a video message describing the event as 'a big deal'.
