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Unmanned Air Systems: Procurement

Asked by Ben Obese-JectyConservativeMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 8 July 2026UIN 14528

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to paragraph 73 of the Defence Investment Plan, published on 30 June 2026, by when the programme to develop UK autonomous jets will begin.

Answered by Luke Pollard

The programme to develop UK autonomous jets leverages years of work in autonomy and remotely piloted aircraft. The £300 million investment represents a programme to develop UK collaborative combat aircraft, working with industry and leveraging technologies and manufacturing techniques being developed by the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP). Defence aims to have a Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) concept demonstrator flying by at least 2030 and will seek to accelerate the delivery of an operational capability as soon as possible thereafter.

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