Prime Minister hails game changing UK-made RAF drones

Hundreds of highly skilled jobs are being supported by the RAF's new cutting-edge UK made drones, known as ‘StormShroud', which come into operation today (Friday 2 May), as the Prime Minister further bolsters UK national security.

It is the latest boost to the UK's defence capabilities as the armed forces reap the benefits from Ukraine's battlefield experience, and comes as the UK continues to play a leading role in peace negotiations, including building momentum in talks between leaders in Rome last weekend. The UK is also driving forward Coalition of the Willing planning as well as accelerating UK-Ukrainian defence industrial cooperation.

The StormShroud drone is a groundbreaking first-of-its-kind drone that will make the RAF's world-class combat aircraft more survivable and more lethal. The drones offer a step change in capability by using a high-tech BriteStorm signal jammer to disrupt enemy radar at long ranges, protecting our aircraft and pilots. In revolutionary new tactics, the drones support aircraft like Typhoon and F35 Lightning, by confusing enemy radars and allowing combat aircraft to attack targets unseen. This means for the first time, the RAF will benefit from high-end electronic warfare without needing crew to man it, freeing them up for other vital frontline missions.  

The RAF is investing an initial £19 million into the cutting-edge drones, which are made in the UK and directly support 200 highly skilled engineering jobs at multiple UK locations already from West Wales to Somerset, with further opportunities expected in future. StormShroud is just the first of a family of next-generation drones - known as Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACPs) - being delivered to the RAF.

The Tekever AR3 and AR5 have had extensive use on the frontline fighting Putin's illegal war, racking up more than 10,000 hours of flight for Ukraine's forces. The RAF is taking the next step by integrating best-in-class signal scrambling technology into the drones to boost the UK's defences at home, as the Prime Minister steps up UK defence capabilities to counter complex threats in the face of global instability.

In a further vote of confidence in Britain's defence industry, British-Portuguese tech company Tekever, who manufacture the drones in the UK, plan to invest a further £400 million over the next 5 years across the UK and create up to 1,000 more highly skilled jobs.

The Prime Minister will visit to a Leonardo UK site in the South East today to see first-hand the expertise that goes into manufacturing the drones, and meeting the staff involved in delivering it, including many engineering apprentices representing the next generation of British defence industry excellence.

As well as stepping up to protect our interests on the world stage, this government's commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 means more secure, well-paid jobs for a generation that's proud to keep our country safe.

Just last week, the Carrier Strike Group launched its eight-month deployment and will join exercises, operations and visits with 30 countries across the Mediterranean, Middle East, south-east Asia, Japan and Australia – led by the Royal Navy's largest and most powerful aircraft carrier, HMS Prince of Wales. The deployment sends a powerful message that the UK and its allies stand ready to protect vital trade routes in the Indo-Pacific region.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

“Investment in our defence is an investment in this country's future.  Putting money behind our Armed Forces and defence industry is safeguarding our economic and national security by putting money back in the pockets of hard-working British people and protecting them for generations to come.

“Together with our allies, this government is taking the bold action needed to stand up to Putin and ruthlessly protect UK and European security, which is vital for us to deliver our Plan for Change and improve lives of working people up and down the country.

“It is a privilege to meet and learn from the young minds driving innovation in defence technology, and we will continue to invest in the industries of the future to deliver security and opportunity for the British people through our Plan for Change.”

NOTES TO EDITORS

• StormShroud is a unique combination of the Tekever AR3 drone integrated with BriteStorm, an electronic warfare technology made by Leonardo UK, demonstrating once again that the UK is at the forefront of defence innovation. This means the new drones combine the security and cost benefits of uncrewed aircraft with the technical capability to disrupt enemy radar.
• Representing the best of British defence manufacturing, StormShroud's development has also shown an unprecedented speed in getting the drones from blueprint to factory and on to the frontline within months, rather than years, and will be continually upgraded as technology advances.

Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton, Chief of the Air Staff, said:​  

"This is a seminal moment for the RAF to maintain our advantage in Air Combat and national security. The RAF is committed to exploring cutting-edge technologies that can enhance its lethality and survivability in a more contested and dangerous world. Autonomous collaborative platforms will revolutionise how we conduct a range of missions, from intelligence gathering to strike and logistical support. We are excited to be at the forefront of this innovation and are working closely with industry partners to explore the possibilities.

Ricardo Mendes, CEO, TEKEVER said:

“TEKEVER is proud to be part of the RAF's Autonomous Collaborative Platforms (ACP) programme, rapidly delivering the STORMSHROUD capability in under 6 months. This programme is a strong example of how the Ministry of Defence and Industry can work collaboratively to deliver cutting edge Defence capability at pace while incorporating lessons learned from operational feedback in Ukraine and supporting the UK sovereign industrial base.

Building on this foundation, and our long term partnership with MOD in supporting Ukraine, we are today announcing our OVERMATCH programme, investing £400 million in the UK over the next 5 years and creating 1,000 high-skilled jobs. This strategic commitment to the UK is more than an industrial expansion - it is a plan to position the UK to lead the transformation of Europe's defence landscape by delivering faster, more adaptive capabilities that stay ahead of evolving threats.”

Mark Hamilton, Managing Director Electronics UK at Leonardo, said:

“We welcome this investment in British defence technology and world-first combat air innovation. As well as providing life-saving new capabilities for our Armed Forces, programmes like StormShroud enable us to grow our business, develop our people and skills and maintain our £1Bn annual investment in our UK-wide supply chain.”