UK acquires classified UAVs for ISR
From the very limited information available, the procurement of a classified ISR UAV disclosed by the UK government may be of a HAPS type, such as the BAE Systems PHASA-35 pictured in this artistic rendering. (BAE Systems)
The United Kingdom has acquired new and classified unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), it was revealed on 25 March.
Answering a question in parliament on the procurement of unmanned aircraft systems, Minister of State at the Ministry of Defence (MoD) Maria Eagle said that three aircraft were ordered as an urgent capability requirement at the end of January 2025. These, she said, will deliver intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) to the UK.
The minister disclosed no further details, except to note that the procurement was separate from the UK's work in procuring UAVs for both the International Fund for Ukraine and the International Drone Capability Coalition, also for Ukraine.
In response to a request for further information, the MoD told Janes on 26 March, “We cannot comment further due to security reasons.”
For more information on the UK's unmanned ISR plans, please see UK launches Project Aether for stratospheric global comms, ISR .
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