Royal Navy launches lethal strike drone at sea in landmark trials

The Royal Navy has launched a lethal drone strike while out at sea in a series of landmark trials.

A Nyan One Way Effector drone was shot off the south coast of England with impressive force as British troops experiment with hybrid tactics.

Although the drone had already been tested on land, the strike-capable drone had yet to be trialled at sea.

With the British Army, sailors on experimentation ship XV Patrick Blackett conducted the first-time trial to explore how the drone could be operated from a ship.

TRENDING

Stories

Videos

Your Say

The drone, pre-programmed to fly to a specfic target, was flown off from a launcher on the deck of the ship.

The recent efforts by the Ministry of Defence makes up part of the Defence Investment Plan's (DIP) bid to boost the hybrid nature of Britain's defence.

Luke Pollard, the Minister for Defence Readiness and Industry, said: "Britain is serious about the transition to a Hybrid Navy with new, powerful drones at the heart of the Royal Navy.

"By bringing together Army and Navy expertise to field strike drones from a ship at sea, we are accelerating the capabilities our forces need to stay ahead of our adversaries."

The drone and launcher were used by the Army during training exercise in Estonia in a bid to back Nato allies.

Personnel from 26 Royal Artillery and 744 Naval Air Squadron took part in the test-run.

The defence plan set out by Sir Keir Starmer has pledged more than £5billion to boost drone and autonomous systems, as well as uncrewed naval vessels to function as part of a "Hybrid Navy".

Maritime One Way Effectors capability sponsor, Lieutenant Commander David Burton, added: "This trial makes a significant step forward in delivering Maritime One-Way Effectors at pace.

BRITAIN'S DEFENCES - READ MORE:

• The six programmes, ships and aircraft culled in Keir Starmer's Defence Investment Plan
• Minister demands urgent meeting with Andy Burnham as £700m road projects
• WATCH IN FULL: John Healey delivers verdict on Labour defence spending after quitting in protest

"Under Project Vantage we are planning to integrate these capabilities into the Hybrid Navy, combining crewed platforms with uncrewed systems to expand reach, increase tempo and enhance lethality.

"Working closely with our Army colleagues, this activity demonstrates how we are accelerating Atlantic Strike concepts into practical, deployable capabilities of the Fleet."

Last week, the Prime Minister outlined proposals to equip troops with attack drones alongside Apache helicopters, deploy new surveillance aircraft, and increase the use of low-cost one-way strike drones to boost the Army's lethality ten times over.

Ahead of the major announcement, Defence Secretary Dan Jarvis added the outgoing leader had enabled Britain to "prove itself a reliable partner and a trusted ally" on defence.

However, the £15billion additional investment over four years remains £13billion short of the £28billion demanded of the Treasury.

The package encompasses £64billion for renewing the nuclear deterrent, including new submarines, a sovereign warhead, and F-35A fighters capable of delivering nuclear weapons.

More than £8billion has been allocated to the global combat air programme with Japan and Italy for developing next-generation RAF jets.

Meanwhile, approximately £5billion will fund what officials describe as a "drone transformation" drawing lessons from the war in Ukraine.

Our Standards: The GB News Editorial Charter