Royal Navy Drone Systems Cleared For Takeoff

AFTER two years of trials and development, the Royal Navy (RN) has declared two drone systems ready for front-line operations. The Malloy T-150 Uncrewed Air Systems (UAS) will deliver ammunition, weaponry, and vital supplies to Royal Marines Commandos (RMC) operating in extreme environments while the Peregrine rotary-wing unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) will provide valuable intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities to RN warships.

The Peregrine is an RN-specific variant of the Schiebel Camcopter S-100, equipped with UK military tech such as radar and an infrared/electro-optical (EO/IR) cameras developed and delivered in partnership with Thales and Schiebel while the Malloy T-150 was tested in operationally representative conditions and developed in close collaboration with Malloy Aeronautics.

Already proving its worth, the Peregrine has been crucial in busting narcotics trafficking missions in the Gulf of Oman and Indian Ocean aboard the Type 23/Duke-class frigate HMS Lancaster with its powerful Thales IMaster radar supplying target surveillance, tracking and target identification through all weather, day and night in complex maritime and coastline areas.

Head of the RN Develop’s Maritime Aviation & Carrier Strike Captain Dave Gillett said, “The introduction of Peregrine into service is a game-changer for our surface fleet. Its successful deployment with HMS Lancaster shows how uncrewed systems can deliver real operational advantage, extending our surveillance reach and enhancing our decision-making in theatre. With the integration of the IMaster radar, Peregrine provides exceptional surveillance capability and is a vital step for wider Maritime Aviation Transformation, ensuring the Royal Navy remains at the forefront of innovation in naval aviation.”

Meanwhile, the T-150 with eight rotor blades can fly up to 40 minutes with a payload capacity of 68 kilogrammes, it has great potential for broader use-cases as we have recently seen in operational theatres and on the HMS Prince of Wales Carrier Strike Group (CSG) deployment. As a multi-role UAS, the T-150 can be used for Replenishment at Sea one day and resupplying deployed Royal Marines Commandos the next.

The T-150 is currently undergoing operational evaluation with the Prince of Wales CSG which is on its return leg to the United Kingdom, expected to participate in the multilateral Five Power Defence Arrangements (FPDA) Exercise Bersama Lima. The T-150 has been delivering supplies from the Prince of Wales to the Type 45/Daring-class air defence destroyer HMS Dauntless in a historic first.–shp/adj/dl (Pix:RN)