UK RAF Introduces StormShroud Drones for Electronic Warfare

The UK Royal Air Force has introduced StormShroud, its first autonomous collaborative platform (ACP) drone, designed to suppress enemy air defenses and protect crewed aircraft such as Typhoons and F-35s. StormShroud integrates the Tekever AR3 uncrewed aerial system with Leonardo UK's BriteStorm electronic warfare payload, which uses advanced radar jamming and digital radio frequency memory technology to disrupt enemy radar and act as a digital decoy. Developed with lessons from the war in Ukraine, these drones enhance survivability and lethality in contested airspace, marking a significant advancement in RAF capabilities. An initial £19 million investment supports the program, which is expected to create hundreds of skilled jobs across the UK. Prime Minister Keir Starmer hailed the initiative as vital for national and European security, emphasizing its economic and strategic benefits. The RAF plans to expand the ACP fleet by 2030, building on proven technology used in Ukraine.