Royal Navy group to replace ship-to-ship helicopter flights with cargo drones

Heavy-lifting drones will transport supplies between Royal Navy ships in a deployment later this year, potentially replacing expensive helicopter flights.

Ships in the UK Carrier Strike Group will send and receive supplies – including defence equipment, food and packages from home – using nine electric quadcopters during the deployment in the Indo-Pacific.

Produced by Berkshire company Malloy Aeronautics, a BAE Systems entity, the T-150 uncrewed aerial systems (UAS) have a top speed of 60mph and maximum lift of 68kg.

The drones will be tested as an alternative to the more expensive option of transporting supplies via helicopter, allowing pilots to focus on their primary role of protecting the ships. Around 95% of stores transferred in previous deployments weighed less than 50kg, said lieutenant Matt Parfitt from the Royal Navy’s drone specialist 700X Naval Air Squadron (NAS).

“They could be anything from parcels from home to a vital engineering part,” he said. “In the past we’d have used a helicopter if a part was urgently needed on another ship. This time we’re going to use a remotely piloted, uncrewed system instead.”

The NAS will use a team of 12 sailors to operate the nine UAS, initially flying from three ships to test their capability.

“We are proud to contribute to this important deployment and look forward to watching these versatile drones prove their worth during operational duties,” said Neil Appleton, CEO of Malloy Aeronautics.

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