The twin-engined Mantis, armed with laser-guided bombs and missiles, is the product of collaboration between the Ministry of Defence (MoD) and a consortium of Britain's leading defence companies, led by BAE.
According to the Financial Times, the aircraft's development is intended to ensure the UK retains "indigenous capabilities" in one of the fastest-growing areas of the defence sector.
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Currently in use by the Royal Air Force in Afghanistan, unmanned-vehicle technology is described by Air Vice-Marshal Simon Bollom, director general of Combat Air at the MoD, as "still in its infancy".
"Mantis is a significant step in providing a platform with which we can experiment with this new technology," he told the newspaper.
The business consortium includes aero-engine manufacturer Rolls-Royce and defence research group Qinetiq, with ground testing of the aircraft lined up to take place later this year and a first flight scheduled for early 2009.
In addition to the Mantis, BAE Systems is displaying the production variant of its HERTI unmanned autonomous system and its armed Fury derivative at Farnborough.
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