Portsmouth-based HMS Trent is currently patrolling the region during hurricane season and launched sorties using the Malloy T-150B uncrewed aerial system—the first time this has taken place from a Royal Navy River-class Batch 2 patrol ship.
The Malloy is a quadcopter that can lift up to 68 kg, fly up to 40 minutes, and has a top speed of 60 mph. Depending on what it’s lifting, the system can fly between 13 km and 37.5 km day or night and has thermal imaging capabilities.
It will be a valuable asset in the event HMS Trent is dispatched on humanitarian aid and disaster relief missions, helping move critical supplies, deliver food, water, and medical aid. It could provide a vital lifeline to communities isolated by a natural disaster.
HMS Trent‘s Commanding Officer, Commander Gavin Lowe, said: “This new capability is a fantastic addition to our toolset for humanitarian aid and disaster relief. The team have worked hard to integrate the system into our operations and we’re all very pleased to see the concept realized.”
The milestone flight marks a significant step forward in the Royal Navy’s exploration of uncrewed aviation capability at sea. During the trial, Scout Flight 700X Naval Air Squadron completed a series of test flights to familiarize both the drone operators and ship’s company with the procedures required to safely operate the system from a warship.
Launching and recovering from a moving vessel at sea, the trials demonstrated the feasibility of integrating heavy-lift drones into maritime operations and represented an important first step towards future ship-to-shore logistics support.
Scout Flight worked closely with HMS Trent‘s bridge and flight deck teams to safely integrate drone operations into established aviation procedures. While Trent‘s flight deck is routinely capable of operating aircraft up to the size of a Merlin helicopter, the introduction of an uncrewed aerial system represents a new and evolving capability for the ship.
Scout Flight Commander, Lieutenant Charles Harper, said: “Working with HMS Trent, we have gained valuable experience in operating uncrewed systems from the flight deck of a River Class Batch 2, paving the way for more complex resupply operations in the future.
“The lessons identified during this activity will inform future training, experimentation, and capability development as we continue to explore the potential of uncrewed systems at sea.”
