Project Mosquito (RAF Lightweight Affordable Novel Combat Aircraft - LANCA)

Project Mosquito (RAF LANCA) was a UK Royal Air Force program under the Lightweight Affordable Novel Combat Aircraft initiative to develop a 'loyal wingman' uncrewed combat aircraft technology demonstrator designed to operate alongside F-35B and Typhoon jets, providing low-cost, high-speed capabilities with missiles, surveillance, and electronic warfare for transformative system-of-systems combat integration. Launched in Q1 2021, it was cancelled on 24 June 2022 after a review determined that smaller, cheaper additive uncrewed capabilities offered better value, with no flight demonstrator built despite plans for flight by late 2023. Strategically, it aimed to enhance RAF force mix with attritable drones for air defense suppression and manned-unmanned teaming post-2035, informing broader LANCA and FCAS developments despite cancellation.