Farnborough Airshow Unveils Anduril Thunder UAV and UK Storm Fighter Drone

At the Farnborough International Airshow, American defence firm Anduril Industries displayed its Thunder unmanned combat aircraft. The vertical‑take‑off, hybrid‑propelled vehicle is designed to carry up to ten Hellfire‑type missiles or 76 70 mm rockets, along with anti‑drone effectors, and is slated for a prototype flight in 2027.

The same event saw the Royal Air Force announce the Storm Fighter programme, a new low‑cost combat drone with an estimated budget of $406 million, part of a broader $6.6 billion UK UAV effort. Storm Fighter is intended to operate alongside F‑35s, Typhoons and the future Tempest, with service entry expected in the 2030s. Both projects underscore a push for affordable, multi‑role unmanned systems to complement manned fighters.