The United Kingdom has confirmed that it has not yet made a decision regarding the adoption of autonomous refueling drones and logistics for its aircraft carriers.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the Royal Navy continues to evaluate Fixed-Wing Autonomous Collaborative Platforms as a complement to the F-35B fighters embarked on Queen Elizabeth-class ships, particularly within the context of the future Hybrid Air Wing concept.
According to Defence Minister Lord Coaker, these capabilities are still in development and testing phases, with no defined acquisition program. The Vanquish Project was cited as the main current demonstrator, focusing on an unmanned jet aircraft capable of operating from an aircraft carrier, considered the first step toward enabling this type of operation in the future.
In addition to aerial refueling, the Royal Navy is also exploring autonomous solutions for onboard transport missions on aircraft carriers. Work includes testing with both fixed-wing and rotary unmanned aircraft, while investment decisions remain aligned with the recommendations of the Defence Strategic Review and are expected to be detailed in the next Defence Investment Plan.
Source: UK Defence Journal | Photo: X @RoyalAirForce | This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team
