This is the first in what I understand will be a set of trials for operating UAVs from the RN’s carriers. The hope is to use UAVs to flesh out the carriers air wing; in the long term [the ambition](https://www.navylookout.com/the-royal-navy-has-ambitious-plans-for-its-future-maritime-aviation-force/) is to try to fulfil roles such as delivery of (relatively lightweight) stores, airborne early warning, anti submarine patrol and potentially strike / air to air refuelling.
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Begun, the Drone Wars have.
This is the first in what I understand will be a set of trials for operating UAVs from the RN’s carriers. The hope is to use UAVs to flesh out the carriers air wing; in the long term [the ambition](https://www.navylookout.com/the-royal-navy-has-ambitious-plans-for-its-future-maritime-aviation-force/) is to try to fulfil roles such as delivery of (relatively lightweight) stores, airborne early warning, anti submarine patrol and potentially strike / air to air refuelling.
This feels laughably naff and British compared to the [MQ-25](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boeing_MQ-25_Stingray) for example.
Still cool to see the drone R&D programme underway though.
don’t underestimate the safety risk assessments and paperwork and risk needed to achieve this…
good first step