RAF Chief Wants Four Armed AI Drones With Every Typhoon by 2030
Britain's air chief made "autonomy, not flesh" RAF doctrine, tying the £300 million Storm Fighter drones to Ukraine's deep strikes and a shrinking workforce.
Britain's air chief made "autonomy, not flesh" RAF doctrine, tying the £300 million Storm Fighter drones to Ukraine's deep strikes and a shrinking workforce.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth called for "autonomy, not flesh" in his Oct. 26 lecture at the Royal United Services Institute in London. He set out a plan in which four armed, AI-enabled drones fly with every RAF Typhoon, with first tests next year and service by the end of the decade. That matches a NATO directive for allies to be ready to fight Russia, if necessary, by 2030.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does 'autonomy, not flesh' mean?
It is Air Chief Marshal Sir Harv Smyth's update of the Second World War 'steel, not flesh' approach: use autonomous systems where possible instead of putting people at risk, he said in his Oct. 26 RUSI lecture.
How many drones would fly with each Typhoon?
Four armed, AI-enabled drones per Typhoon, with first tests next year and service by the end of the decade, per The Guardian's account of the plan.
What is Storm Fighter?
A £300 million loyal-wingman drone programme announced in July. Defence Matters notes it is still in development and the four-drone formation has not been demonstrated in routine operations.
What role would pilots and crews keep?
Smyth said AI will push humans 'towards the outside', to control the activity and set the guardrails, and framed the issue as a balance between crewed and uncrewed aircraft.
Why does Smyth cite Ukraine?
He said autonomous air systems 'penetrate Russia's perceived sense of sanctuary on a routine basis', pointing to Ukrainian long-range drone strikes on targets such as oil refineries.
AI-generated summary, reviewed by an editor. More on our AI guidelines.
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Marcus Schuler
Marcus Schuler edits BattlePolicy, a daily defense-technology brief connecting the companies and capabilities behind modern war to the contest among Europe, the US, Russia, and China.