Video shows the Royal Air Force test-launching drones from a Chinook helicopter

Business Insider

12-05-2025

The UK's air force has tested launching drones from a Chinook helicopter as it seeks to develop its own drone systems and tactics.
Uncrewed aerial vehicles, or UAVs, have become a major component of modern warfare, from Ukraine to the Middle East and beyond.
The UK's Royal Air Force said in an update on LinkedIn that it had trailed First Person View (FPV) drones by "deploying them from an RAF Chinook helicopter."
It shared a video made up of clips showing the trial, including an operator wearing a headset sitting inside a Chinook, made by US aerospace company Boeing, as well as a serviceman dropping a drone from a Chinook midair.
It did not share any results from the trial, which it called Hornets Nest.
UK Defence is investing in agile tech to stay ahead. First Person View (FPV) drones can jam targets, scout terrain, and strike targets — all in one flight.
A trial deploying FPVs from an RAF Chinook helicopter called Hornets Nest was recently completed. pic.twitter.com/3CyI7kN5PD
— Royal Air Force (@RoyalAirForce) May 9, 2025
Drones are playing a crucial role in many of the major conflicts taking place right now, including in Russia's invasion of Ukraine, where drones are being used more than in any other conflict in history.
Drones have also been deployed in the Middle East, and featured in clashes between India and Pakistan last week.
FPV drones are smaller and cheaper than the larger military-grade drones, and can be deployed at scale for both attacks and surveillance.
The RAF said, "UK defence is embracing FPV drones due to their proven effectiveness in recent conflicts, the tactical advantages they offer on the battlefield, their alignment with future military strategies, and the ability to rapidly train personnel in their use."
Helicopters have not played a notable role in the conflict in Ukraine, and there are no reported cases of drones being deployed from helicopters. But it's something that Russia has already been testing.
Drones' ubiquity in modern warfare has pushed many countries to invest in new drone technology, study new tactics, and update their war plans as drones take over roles once performed by other weaponry and by infantry.
This includes the US Marine Corps creating a new competitive drone team that aims to integrate advanced drone tactics picked up from observing the war in Ukraine.
US Army Secretary Daniel Driscoll said the proliferation of drones means the US needs to rethink its approach to weaponry, as "we keep creating and purchasing these exquisite machines that very cheap drones can take out."
Russian and Ukrainian drones have destroyed weapons systems worth millions of dollars.
The RAF outlined some drone abilities on X, saying that FPV drones can "jam targets, scout terrain, and strike targets — all in one flight."
It added that "UK Defence is investing in agile tech to stay ahead."
In its LinkedIn post, the RAF said "FPV drones equipped with thermal imaging can provide a significant advantage in night-time operations, reducing the risks associated with crewed missions in low-visibility conditions."
This technology is seen as a crucial element in maintaining a modern and adaptable fighting force.
Russia and Ukraine have been using drones to track and attack soldiers and weaponry, to destroy expensive equipment like aircraft, ships, and air defenses, and to fight at night.
Ukrainian military commanders told The New York Times in November that Ukraine's drone units accounted for at least 80% of Russian frontline losses, with Ukraine dependent on them due to shortages of other weaponry.
A Ukrainian drone operator said the same when talking to Business Insider last month, saying that 80% of hits on Russian targets in his unit's area of the front were made by drones.