A British drone will fly ahead of RAF fighter jets and disrupt enemy air defence systems before F-35s and Typhoons get close to their targets.
The StormShroud air system came into operation on Friday as Sir Keir Starmer vowed that the government would “stand up to Putin and ruthlessly protect UK and European security”.
The first of its kind, the drone will be fitted with a high-tech signal jammer — BriteStorm — that can disrupt enemy radar at long range and allow combat jets to attack targets unseen.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton, left, and John Healey, the defence secretary, celebrated the “landmark development” of the introduction of StormShroud
About 24 drones are expected to enter service as part of Ministry of Defence plans to modernise the force and rely more on unmanned systems than pilots.
Once launched, the drones can operate autonomously without the need
