The United Kingdom's Royal Air Force (RAF) plans to incorporate squadrons of "swarming drones" to help foil enemy air defenses. Last year, the RAF gave its No. 216 Squadron the mission of testing drone swarm technology. "With swarming drones and uncrewed combat aircraft, we are on the threshold of a change in air warfare as profound as the advent of the jet age," Air Chief Marshal Sir Mike Wigston, the chief of the U.K. air staff, told the Global Air Chiefs Conference in London on July 14. "Our drone test squadron, 216, has proven beyond doubt the disruptive and innovative utility of swarming drones under our Alvina program. Working with our defense science laboratory and specialist industry partners, I can say that we have exercised swarms of over 20 ultra-low cost drones, operating together against threat systems, to brilliant effect. We have been focused on confusing and overwhelming adversary air defenses, but we're already contemplating new, disruptive missions."
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