US drones earmarked for Royal Navy aircraft carriers in UK military first
MQ-9 unmanned aerial system found to have the capability to be modified for operations from the Queen-Elizabeth-class fleet following a formal inquiry
Royal Navy aircraft carriers could soon be equipped with US-made drones capable of early threat detection.
The MQ-9 unmanned aerial system (UAS), developed by American firm General Atomics, has been found to have the potential to be adapted for operations from the Queen Elizabeth-class fleet following a formal investigation.
Consequently, it's being considered as a contender to meet the navy's future Carrier Strike Airborne Early Warning (AEW) requirement, currently fulfilled by the Merlin HM2 helicopter fitted with the Crownest system.
Developed by AgustaWestland, the Merlin HM2 is widely seen as a sophisticated and versatile maritime helicopter used extensively for anti-submarine warfare, surface surveillance, and search and rescue missions.
Although it's equipped with the Thales Searchwater 2000 radar, which provides airborne surveillance, target tracking and battlespace management for the UK's carriers, the Crownest system and the host aircraft are gradually becoming 'obsolete', reports the Express.
As a result, the Ministry of Defence has decided they need to find a more modern and sustainable alternative able to meet the demands of future naval warfare.
Transitioning from that rotary-wing system to the unmanned fixed-wing of the MQ-9 would deliver a number of strategic advantages.
These include significantly increased operational endurance, the ability to maintain surveillance over wider maritime areas, reduced risk to the crew and lower operating costs.
The MQ-9 is a medium-altitude, long endurance (MALE) drone that boasts versatility for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance use.
Sporting a wingspan of over 20 metres and the capacity to fly for more than 27 hours, the system can carry advanced sensors, communication systems and mission payloads.
It comes in several variants, with the British Royal Air Force adopting the MQ-9A Reaper and gradually transitioning to the MQ-9B SkyGuardian, indicating the MQ-9 already has a solid foundation in British military to be built upon for naval use.
General Atomics notably showcased the MQ-9B Mojave's short takeoff and landing capabilities aboard HMS Prince of Wales in 2023.
If chosen, the deployment of the MQ-9 would signify a game-changing shift in naval warfare.
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