Autonomous Collaborative Platform Tranche 2

Description

In March 2024 the MOD published the RAF Autonomous Collaborative Platforms Strategy that defines the RAF's vision for procurement of ACPs to support their future capability requirements. In May 2025 the MOD announced the delivery of StormShroud Mk1 into service, marking the first ACP to be formally delivered to the RAF. In June 2025 the MOD published the Strategic Defence Review which recommended "the RAF must stay at the leading edge of combat air's evolution, through the transition from exclusively crewed combat air platforms to a Future Combat Air System (FCAS) with a mix of crewed, uncrewed, and increasingly autonomous platforms" and that "to assure the future of UK combat air, investment in ACPs should be considered alongside investment in FCAS and the Global Combat Air Programme. The ACPs must be designed to operate in collaboration with the fourth-, fifth- and future generations of combat aircraft and to operate from the UK aircraft carriers".