From an article on Flight Global
Three bidders have been selected to pursue a UK contract to build and fly a lightweight affordable novel combat aircraft (LANCA) demonstrator: a class of unmanned vehicle which could potentially one day be used in coordination with assets such as the Eurofighter Typhoon, Lockheed Martin F-35 or Tempest future combat air system.
Blue Bear, Boeing and a Black Dawn team – including Bombardier Aerospace’s Belfast unit and Northrop Grumman UK – will contest the requirement.
A model of a notional LANCA airframe was displayed as part of an exhibit for the Royal Air Force’s Rapid Capabilities Office at the 19-21 July Royal International Air Tattoo.
The current shortlist was prepared after nine expressions of interest were received, with other interested parties having included airframer BAE Systems and guided weapons manufacturer MBDA.
BAE expressed interest but were not chosen. Kiss of death or a sign of hope for the programme?