First supersonic unmanned combat demonstrator aircraft (UCAV)

The Taranis (Celtic god of thunder) unmanned combat demonstrator aircraft, constructed by the UK defence manufacturer BAE Systems, made its first test flight on 10 August 2013 at the Woomera Test Range, Australia. A highly classified, stealth aircraft, it is designed to demonstrate that an unmanned aircraft is capable of complex multi-tasking in the roles of intelligence gathering, surveillance, targeting, and combat strikes in enemy territory. It is around the size of a BAE Hawk advanced jet trainer aircraft and unlike other combat drones to date, is designed for supersonic flight and is powered by a Rolls Royce Adour 951 jet engine.The project has cost £185 million (US $280m) so far.