Navy Drones Squadron Ready For Warship Deployments

The Royal Navy's squadron of drone specialists is ready to deploy on warships.

Sailors from 700X Naval Air Squadron have formed three flights, known as Phantom Flights A, B and C.

Eight personnel make up the three flights, with an extra sailor joining later this year.

700X NAS are the senior service's experts in remotely-piloted air systems, testing the first Navy-owned and operated drones at Predannack Airfield, near Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose.

They were recently part of Exercise Merlin Storm, which featured Royal Marines preparing to deploy to the Caribbean during hurricane season, providing airborne surveillance for the Commandos' helicopters.

Commander Tim Flatman, of the fixed-wing force at Culdrose, presented certificates to members of the new flights as they completed their training.

"This represents the end of a lot of hard work by you all and you are now ready to take this capability to sea," he said.

"It was just over a year ago that the gauntlet was laid down to send a deployable capability to sea.

"The fact that we are on the brink of achieving it despite the recent challenges is truly outstanding.

"You represent the vanguard of this new capability which, I have no doubt, will expand over the coming years and I congratulate you all."

700X NAS is expected to see its first deployment by the end of the year.

Cover image: A member of 700X NAS launches a Puma drone (Picture: Royal Navy).