British drone to use United States engine after BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce dispute
An “all-British” autonomous fighter jet is now expected to use an American engine after a cost-related clash between defence giants BAE Systems and Rolls-Royce.
The Brontanax drone is an autonomous drone, being pitched as the only domestic candidate for the RAF’s “loyal wingman” drone programme - machinery designed to fly alongside fighter jets to provide protection.
However, despite a list of over 70 British firms involved in the development of the Brontanax, Rolls-Royce is notably missing from the contributors.
It is understood that the company was excluded from the project, led by BAE Systems, after a dispute between the two companies over pricing.
Rolls-Royce’s small demonstrator engine, Orpheus, is planned to be marketed to militaries around the world for use in loyal-wingman drones, but has been deemed to expensive by BAE Systems.
In talks over the engine, sources also accused Rolls-Royce of not "lean[ing] in" fully to the project.
Revealed just last week, the Brontanax is competing against alternatives largely made in the US.
But sources speaking to the Telegraph are now claiming the drone will depend on a more cost-effective power system, sourced from US rival Williams International.
BAE’s decision means that while Rolls-Royce is collaborating with the US and Germany on their foreign drone programmes, it remains absent from Britain’s own flagship effort.
The news comes as Rolls-Royce is already stuck in a dispute with the Government over funding for a new engine for short-haul planes domestically.
Asked why his company was not working on the Brontanax, Tufan Erginbilgic, the chief executive of Rolls-Royce, said: “You should ask BAE that, but it’s a demonstrator.
“I expect these two great companies to work on this. How we ended up here, I don’t want to speculate. But going forward, that opportunity definitely exists."
He added that he expected Rolls to "lead" on sovereign propulsion capability in autonomous machinery as they have a capability "better than some others".
Despite the dispute, Mr Erginbilgic added that Rolls retained a “very close” relationship with BAE.
Head of Investigations
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
