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The Royal Air Force (RAF) has bolstered its airborne electronic warfare capabilities with the deployment of StormShroud, a fleet of advanced uncrewed air systems designed to disrupt enemy radar and protect frontline aircraft.
Delivered in under six months, StormShroud represents a significant leap in the UK’s adoption of autonomous technologies for contested airspace operations.
Developed as part of the RAF’s evolving Autonomous Collaborative Platform (ACP) program, StormShroud systems integrate the Tekever AR3 drone platform with Leonardo UK’s electronic warfare payload, BriteStorm, forming a high-performance signal-jamming solution capable of long-range disruption of enemy defenses.
StormShroud was rapidly procured and integrated by Defence Equipment and Support’s (DE&S) ACP delivery team, formerly known as Project Catalyst, under an initial £19 million investment. The systems are manufactured in the UK, supporting around 200 skilled jobs across multiple sites, including Tekever’s facility in Aberporth, West Wales, and Leonardo’s site in Luton, Bedfordshire. The program was officially unveiled by Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer during a visit to Leonardo UK.
Air Chief Marshal Sir Rich Knighton, Chief of the Air Staff, said, “This is a seminal moment for the RAF to maintain our advantage in air combat and national security.
“The RAF is committed to exploring cutting-edge technologies that can enhance its lethality and survivability in a more contested and dangerous world.”
Ricardo Mendes, CEO of Tekever, added, “This programme is a strong example of how the Ministry of Defence and Industry can work collaboratively to deliver cutting edge defence capability at pace while incorporating lessons learned from operational feedback in Ukraine and supporting the UK sovereign industrial base.
“This strategic commitment to the UK is more than an industrial expansion – it is a plan to position the UK to lead the transformation of Europe’s defence landscape by delivering faster, more adaptive capabilities that stay ahead of evolving threats.”
StormShroud drones bring a critical edge to RAF air operations by delivering electronic attack capabilities without risking human pilots. The drones are engineered to jam hostile radar systems at standoff ranges, increasing survivability for key combat aircraft such as the F-35B Lightning II and Typhoon. By degrading enemy situational awareness, these drones also enable RAF strike platforms to engage targets with greater freedom and lethality.
As uncrewed platforms, StormShroud allows RAF personnel to be reassigned to other high-priority missions, while the drone systems themselves can be continually upgraded as new electronic warfare technologies mature.
The Tekever AR3 and AR5 platforms, already in active use by Ukrainian forces, have logged over 10,000 flight hours in operational theaters, where they’ve demonstrated their resilience and utility under combat conditions. This operational pedigree adds credibility to StormShroud’s integration into UK defense capabilities.
StormShroud is the first in a planned family of collaborative drones set to augment RAF operations under the ACP initiative. These platforms are intended to operate alongside crewed aircraft, offering scalable, mission-tailored capabilities in electronic warfare, ISR, and more.
Tekever, the Portuguese parent company behind the AR-series drones, has announced plans to invest an additional £400 million into its UK operations over the next five years. This expansion is expected to generate up to 1,000 highly skilled jobs, reinforcing the UK’s strategic position as a hub for advanced defense technology development.
With StormShroud entering service, the RAF gains a decisive tool for operating in increasingly contested electromagnetic environments, enhancing both survivability and mission effectiveness across a range of future air operations.
