UK Carriers may be equipped to serve as base for drones

Crown Copyright/MoD

U UK K C Ca ar rr ri ie er rs s m ma ay y b be e e eq qu ui ip pp pe ed d t to o s se er rv ve e a as s b ba as se e f fo or r d dr ro on ne es s

Defence Select Committee evidence released to the public appears to indicate that in the absence of sufficient numbers of F-35B Lightning II aircraft and helicopters, one of the two British aircraft carriers could alternatively be equipped to serve as a base for squadrons of drones.

Such a policy could allow for both Queen Elizabeth and Prince of Wales to be held at ‘ very high-readiness ’ at the same time. Before he assumed the role of Chief of the Defence Staff,Admiral Sir Tony Radakin addressed the select committee and commented on how he expected the Royal Navy to able to provide mass.

“Are we matching what the Department has always said, which is that the carrier full operating capability matures at the end of 2024 and needs to be able to deploy 24 jets on an aircraft carrier?We are absolutely on track to be able to do that, and I think that has always been a very clear aspiration and it has been laid out. Within the Navy - so not yet a departmental plan - how might we be able to look to provide a second carrier air wing? In the modern world, does that mean purely more jets, or is it what I think most of us would see as being a hybrid force of both jets and drones?” Much sharing of information and technology with the Royal Air Force has been undertaken particularly in regard to the development of the RAF’ s Mosquito and LANCA ((Lightweight Affordable Novel CombatAircraft) programmes for autonomous aerial vehicles.

Admiral Sir Radakin continued: “If you look at what is going on with the Air Force and their Mosquito and LANCA programme, and if you saw what happened in September with HMS Prince ofWales flying the first jet drone, that is the area that we want to pursue. Then we can start to give Ministers choices around whether or not it might be feasible, but not at the expense of buying lots of expensive aircraft even more quickly.Are there opportunities with the cost of drones? Does it become a better offensive capability to blend drones with crewed jets? And does that then start to allow you the opportunity for two carrier air wings to marry up with both carriers?”

Whilst there is a great deal of sharing of ideas and technologies between the British Armed Forces, the Royal Navy continues to develop its own ‘ProjectVixen ’ drones that could be utilised in a wide range of applications from airborne early warning (AEW), aerial refuelling vis a vizAmerican carriers with their Stingray UAVs or even some combat roles. Drone technology is at the forefront of the RN’ s Future Maritime Aviation Force that envisages the current helicopter based AEW Crowsnest system on the Merlin HM2 with a fixed-wing UAV,(theVixen) when that programme reaches maturity estimated to be in the 2030 timeframe. The first flight of the similar Mosquito UAV is expected to take place in 2023 and is currently supporting more than 100 jobs in Belfast where the aircraft and associated equipment is being developed. Mosquito and stablemateVixen will be the first uncrewed aerial platforms in the British military to have the capability to target and shoot down enemy aircraft. Minister for Defence Procurement, Jeremy Quin addressing the Royal United Strategic Institute CombatAir Power conference explained the UK’ s position:

“The uncrewed combat aircraft will be designed to fly at high-speed alongside fighter jets, armed with missiles, surveillance and electronic warfare technology to provide a battle-winning advantage over hostile forces. Known as a ‘loyal wingman ’ , these aircraft will be the UK’ s first uncrewed platforms able to target and shoot down enemy aircraft and survive against surface to air missiles. ”

For the RN what does the introduction of large fixed-wing drones signify? Certainly, it would mean that some kind of catapult launch system would be required for operation aboard the QE aircraft carriers and in 2021 the MOD asked industry to supply information on such systems that will include electromagnetic catapults and modern arrestor wire systems. Such systems will be unlikely powerful enough to launch a fully loaded F-35C Lightning, however any supplier would need to be able to install catapult and recovery systems on suitable ships from 2023.