FARNBOROUGH — The head of Leonardo’s British division Clive Higgins says that while the company is keeping an eye on how it could get involved with the UK’s new Collaborative Combat Aircraft (CCA) program, government funding right now doesn’t appear to be near the level needed for a full fleet to be developed.
Moments before local rival BAE Systems unveiled its Brontanax CCA demonstrator at the Farnborough International Airshow, Higgins told Breaking Defense that the British government’s Defence Investment Plan’s (DIP) £300 million ($398 million) “investment” for the loyal wingman type drones is only “enough to probably kick off a program and do some initial demonstrator work. I don’t think you’re going to get [a] complete [fleet].”
“That’s why you need to see what the requirement actually is, and then how can we best support that?” he said.
Based on the company’s prowess in developing and selling electronic warfare systems to the UK Royal Air Force (RAF), Higgins signaled that he will prioritize this side of the business when approaching CCA opportunities.
“Of course, if we’re just talking [about] sensors and effectors, well what’s needed on there?” he asked. “What missions are you trying to deliver? And that will dictate a shape and size of radar apertures and those type of things.”
