The UK Royal Navy (RN) hopes to perform a demonstration next year from one of its two Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers of an attritable ‘loyal wingman’-type drone ultimately capable of fulfilling multiple roles, including strike or refuelling missions.
Detailed in a request for information (RFI) released on 3 October, the new initiative, called Project Vanquish, is seeking demonstrations of what the tender document describes as a fixed-wing, short take-off and landing autonomous collaborative platform (ACP).
No firm detail about the platform’s desired specification is disclosed in the RFI, other than it should be powered by a turbine engine, capable of “high-subsonic speed”, and able to deploy – without the need for a catapult or arrested recovery system – and operate autonomously from a Queen Elizabeth-class carrier.
Additionally, it should offer “credible payload and endurance” and demonstrate “an exploitation pathway to the delivery of a wide range of maritime mission sets” including intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, strike, and air-to-air refuelling in support of the RN’s Lockheed Martin F-35Bs.
While the navy is seeking at-sea demonstrations by the end of 2026, this deadline could be extended by up to 18 months, the notice states.
Part of the service’s pivot towards uncrewed systems through its Maritime Aviation Transformation, or MATx, strategy, the tests are “part of the route” towards the development of a “hybrid air wing” comprising crewed and uncrewed platforms.
“Successful completion of a technical demonstration will inform future capability development and procurement options,” the RFI notes.
The RN has previously trialled various ACP-type systems from its carriers, including flying a General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Mojave air vehicle from HMS Prince of Wales in November 2023.
A total of £12 million ($16 million), including tax, has been allocated for the Project Vanquish effort. A tender notice is expected early next year.
