BAE Systems Taranis The BAE Systems Taranis is a British demonstrator programme for Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle ( UCAV ) technology , being developed primarily by the defence contractor BAE Systems . A semi - autonomous unmanned warplane , it is designed to fly intercontinental missions , and will carry a variety of weapons , enabling it to attack both aerial and ground targets . It will utilise stealth technology , giving it a low radar profile , and it will be controllable via satellite link from anywhere on Earth . The Strategic Unmanned Air Vehicles ( Experiment ) Integrated Project Team , or SUAV ( E ) IPT , is responsible for auditing and overseeing the project . The aircraft , which is intended to demonstrate the viability of unmanned multi - role systems , is named after the Celtic god of thunder , Taranis . It conducted its first flight in 2013 . Background . The development of UAVs was a key part of the UK ' s Defence Industrial Strategy , which was announced in December 2005 , and specified the need for the UK to maintain its " sovereign " aircraft and UAV / UCAV construction skills . Design and development . The Taranis project is led by BAE Systems , and also involves Rolls - Royce , GE Aviation Systems , QinetiQ and the Ministry of Defence ( MoD ) . As the prime contractor , BAE Systems is responsible for the overall programme , and also for many of the component technologies , including stealth technology , systems integration and system control infrastructure . BAE Systems and QinetiQ are working closely on all aspects relating to the autonomy of the system . GE Aviation Systems ( formerly Smiths Aerospace ) is responsible for providing Taranis ' fuel - gauging and electrical power systems . Rolls - Royce is responsible for the propulsion system and installation ; the aircraft is expected to use a Rolls - Royce Turbomeca Adour Mk . 951 turbofan . BAE Systems Australia is tasked with developing and supplying the flight control computers , having a 5 % workshare in the project , while the Integrated Systems Technologies ( Insyte ) subsidiary of BAE Systems is providing C4ISTAR support . BAE Systems stated that " Taranis will make use of at least 10 years of research and development into low observables , systems integration , control infrastructure and full autonomy . It follows the completion of risk - reduction activities to ensure the mix of technologies , materials and systems used are robust enough for the ' next logical step ' . " These " risk - reduction activities " included related BAE programmes , such as Replica , Nightjar I , Nightjar II , Kestrel , Corax , Raven and HERTI . The first steel for the Taranis prototype was cut in September 2007 , and assembly began in February 2008 . On 9 January 2009 , the Ministry of Defence denied that the Taranis had been flying near the site of a damaged wind turbine , after local people claimed to have seen a UFO . Prototype . The Taranis prototype , which cost £143 million to develop , was unveiled by BAE Systems at Warton Aerodrome , Lancashire , on 12 July 2010 . Ground tests of the prototype began in 2010 , and flight trials were initially expected to begin in 2011 . However , the aircraft ' s first flight was later delayed to 2012 , then delayed further to " the first part of 2013 " . The prototype has a maximum takeoff weight ( MTOW ) of about , and is of a similar size to the BAE Hawk training jet . It mounts two internal weapons bays , and is intended to incorporate " full autonomy " , allowing it to operate without human control for a large part of the mission . Flight testing . On 25 October 2013 , the UK Ministry of Defence revealed that initial flight tests had already taken place . Ground tests were conducted in 2010 and flight trials occurred in 2013 . MoD will not officially comment on the Taranis until the initial trials program has been completed . Specifications . Although the aircraft is still in development phase , the latest specifications which are publicly available are as follows :