BAE Systems发布Brontanax无人僚机并获7.08亿英镑GCAP合同延期

BAE Systems (BAESF)(BAESY) on Wednesday unveiled the U.K.'s first autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft at the Farnborough International Airshow, alongside new details on government funding for future combat air programs and progress on the Global Combat Air Programme.
The prototype aircraft, named Brontanax, was developed by BAE Systems' (BAESF)(BAESY) FalconWorks division and is designed to operate alongside crewed fighter aircraft such as the Eurofighter Typhoon. The company said the uncrewed aircraft is intended to carry out missions including electronic warfare and precision strikes while being controlled by a pilot or mission commander from another aircraft.
BAE Systems (BAESF)(BAESY) said the aircraft was designed and built in Warton, England. More than 500 employees and over 75 companies have contributed to the project.
The aircraft is now preparing for ground testing before planned flight testing in U.K. airspace.
The announcement follows the U.K. government's publication of its Defence Investment Plan, which includes a £300 million commitment to the Storm Fighter autonomous combat aircraft program.
Separately, BAE Systems (BAESF)(BAESY) said it secured a £708 million contract related to the U.K.'s role in the Global Combat Air Programme, the multinational effort involving the U.K., Italy and Japan to develop a sixth generation fighter aircraft.
Under the agreement, BAE Systems (BAESF)(BAESY) will serve as the UK's lead systems integrator, developing technologies including software, digital networks, digital engineering infrastructure and capabilities that integrate uncrewed aircraft with the broader Future Combat Air System.
BAE Systems (BAESF)(BAESY) and its Team Tempest partners also announced progress on several technologies supporting GCAP.
The group said about half of the primary structure for the UK Combat Air Demonstrator has now been assembled. The demonstrator is expected to become the U.K.'s first crewed combat aircraft developed in four decades.
According to the companies, more than 11,500 aircraft parts have been designed, representing about 90% of the aircraft's projected weight.
Team Tempest also said the Excalibur Flight Test Aircraft has completed modifications and is preparing for additional flight trials to test advanced sensing and communications technologies. The partnership reported further progress on propulsion technology using lessons from its Orpheus engine demonstrator.
Team Tempest includes BAE Systems, Leonardo UK, MBDA UK, Rolls-Royce and the U.K. Ministry of Defence.
While the Farnborough Airshow is best known for commercial aircraft and engine orders, the event has also become a key venue for defense manufacturers to introduce new technologies and highlight military aviation programs. Investors typically watch the show for signs of defense spending priorities, international partnerships and future procurement opportunities.
Separately, BAE Systems (BAESF)(BAESY) said it recently hosted its first defense technology "plugfest" in the Detroit area, bringing together government representatives and seven hardware and software companies to test interoperability between defense systems in a synthetic environment.
The company said the event focused on validating open systems architecture standards and identifying integration issues before equipment reaches operational use. It added that the effort is intended to reduce technical risk and lower integration costs for future defense programs.