Patrol ship HMS Trent is currently in the region providing reassurance to British Overseas Territories during hurricane season and headed to the British Virgin Islands for a pioneering drone capability exercise.
Members of 700X Naval Air Squadron launched their Malloy T-150B Quadcopter—which can carry up to 68 kg and fly up to 40 minutes and has a top speed of 60 mph—to carry more than 240 kg of supplies from Trent to the island of Jost Van Dyke.
The hour-long exercise showed how the drone could support humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations by delivering essential equipment, medical supplies, and emergency stores onto land from the ship, supporting the work of the Crisis Response Troop from 24 Commando Royal Engineers—specialists in rebuilding critical infrastructure and clearing storm damage.
Executive Officer of HMS Trent, Lieutenant Commander Charles Stevenson, said: “I am really pleased that my team have been able to demonstrate the capability of our Malloy UAS in delivering supplies from the sea to the shore.
“This furthers our ability to reach challenging areas in a crisis and enhances our readiness to support the Overseas Territories during the hurricane season.
“To have built on the demonstration previously conducted in BVI by returning here for a Royal Navy first feels particularly appropriate, particularly given the enthusiastic engagement of the various BVI organisations when we were here last month.”
Personnel from 700X Naval Air Squadron, 24 Commando Royal Engineers Crisis Response Troop, and HMS Trent demonstrated the ship-to-shore logistics capability of the Malloy T150B medium-lift Uncrewed Aerial System (UAS).
HMS Trent is deployed to the Caribbean and North Atlantic as part of the United Kingdom’s humanitarian assistance and disaster relief preparedness during core hurricane season.
The serial was supported by the Department of Disaster Management (DDM) and the Royal Virgin Islands Police Force (RVIPF), whose coordination, planning, and local expertise were instrumental in organizing the activity. Their support highlighted the close partnership between UK military personnel and BVI agencies in strengthening collective disaster preparedness and response.
Logistics Officer for DDM, Cecil “Alex” Jeffery, said: “The drone exercise demonstrated regional operational readiness and response capabilities during emergency scenarios. Jost van Dyke was selected as the target location due to its absence of fixed airlift support infrastructure, serving as a critical proving ground for rapid aerial supply delivery and situational awareness.”
Earlier in the deployment, representatives from the British Virgin Islands DDM and other emergency response organizations attended a separate demonstration of the Malloy T150B between Peter Island and Dead Chest Island. Flights included the delivery of medical supplies, a training automated external defibrillator, and a 40 kg long-line lift, highlighting the platform’s ability to transport critical supplies between islands.
The engagement also included a hurricane tabletop exercise hosted by DDM, bringing together government departments, emergency services, and critical infrastructure organizations to strengthen preparedness and enhance coordination ahead of future hurricane seasons.
Lieutenant Commander Kelly Jenkins-Hill, an officer with HMS Trent leading on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief operations, added: “The experiences of Hurricanes Irma and Maria highlighted the importance of strong partnerships and effective planning.
“By bringing together the UK military, FCDO, and BVI Government agencies, this exercise has improved our understanding of how we can collectively respond to a crisis and deliver humanitarian assistance quickly and efficiently to those who need it most.”
