BAE unveils Brontanax collaborative combat aircraft concept

BAE Systems revealed Brontanax, a new unmanned fighter-sized Collaborative Combat Aircraft intended to operate as a “loyal wingman” alongside piloted jets. The novelty is the UK’s push toward a sovereign, modular/open-architecture CCA with claimed higher stealth and low unit cost, aiming for flight testing next year and an operational demonstrator by 2027—signaling a shift toward massed, attritable uncrewed airpower concepts.