Production of the Royal Air Force's new uncrewed combat aircraft, dubbed "loyal wingman", is set to kick off in Northern Ireland, British media reported, citing the UK Ministry of Defence.
The drone, designed to fly at high velocity alongside fighter jets, is expected to be fitted with missile, surveillance and electronic warfare tech.
According to the MoD, the aircraft will be the first unmanned platform in the UK with the ability to hit enemy aircraft and withstand surface-to-air missiles.
"This is a great win for the Northern Ireland defence industry and will showcase some of the most pioneering engineering work currently being undertaken in the UK," Sky News quoted Defence Minister Jeremy Quin as saying.
The full-scale flight test programme is expected to be developed by 2023.