By Islam El-Sakka
The Royal Navy has successfully launched strike drones from the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth for the first time, marking a milestone in the UK's push to modernize its armed forces with autonomous systems.
First carrier-based strike drone flights
The trials, conducted in mid-October in the North Atlantic, saw British-made Nyan Maritime one-way drones, manufactured by Callen-Lenz in Wiltshire, take off from the carrier's flight deck. The flights demonstrated how autonomous strike systems could operate alongside F-35B stealth jets.
Defence Secretary highlights investment
Defence Secretary Wes Streeting said the trials reflect the biggest sustained increase in defence spending since the Cold War, aimed at giving forces greater reach and "increased lethality." He added that readiness to fight strengthens deterrence.
Heavy Lift Challenge runs in parallel
The carrier simultaneously hosted Heavy Lift Challenge 3, where a Tekever AR5 fixed-wing uncrewed aircraft operated from a carrier for the first time. The AR5 has a 7-meter wingspan and can carry 80 kilograms.
Building a hybrid navy
Lieutenant Commander David Burton, trials sponsor for Navy Capability, said the trials provide evidence to decide how uncrewed systems can work alongside crewed aircraft, helping build a hybrid navy that gives commanders greater choice.
Multi-billion pound autonomous investment
The trials are part of the government's Defence Investment Plan, which allocates more than £5 billion for autonomous systems by 2030, including at least £1.3 billion for a hybrid fleet of crewed and uncrewed ships and £210 million for low-cost, long-range one-way attack drones for the Navy, Army, and RAF.
