RAF's 'swarming' drone test squadron

摘要

The Royal Air Force is to reform 216 Squadron as a specialist unit testing small 'swarming' UAVs, it was announced during the Air and Space Power Conference in London in July. The disclosure follows the news earlier this year that a consortium led by Blue Bear Systems Research Ltd has been awarded a Defence Science and Technology Laboratory contract to develop drone swarming technology. Reports quoted the outgoing Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Sir Stephen Hillier, saying the intention is to bring drone swarming to the frontline by 2026. No 216 Squadron was last active in March 2014 operating Lockheed TriStars from RAF Brize Norton.