Navy to get jet-powered autonomous wingman for carrier trials as First Sea Lord signs deal
Jet-powered Talon drones should be flying off the Royal Navy's carriers from next year after the First Sea Lord seals a deal with Northrop Grumman.
General Sir Gwyn Jenkins is signing a letter of intent after which the US defence giant will prepare its Talon demonstrator for trials with the Royal Navy under Project Vanquish.
The aircraft, which is known as the YFQ-48A Talon Blue by the US Air Force, for whom it was originally designed, is built to support crewed fighters, such as the F-35B Lightnings that fly from HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Queen Elizabeth.
Transforming the way we fight
Gen Sir Gwyn, who was speaking from HMS Prince of Wales which is currently alongside in Oslo in Norway, made the announcement as he was standing next to a model of the autonomous wingman UAV.
He said: "Through that agreement, we will work towards a demonstration in UK waters in 2027, including a launch from the carrier.
"It will give us the evidence we need to understand how uncrewed combat aircraft can operate safely and effectively alongside the existing air wing.
"Then we learn, adapt and keep moving forward. That is how we deliver capability at the pace necessary."
The Royal Navy is being transformed into a Hybrid Navy with not just a hybrid air wing, but surface and underwater fleets too.
The First Sea Lord added: "The opportunity that the Hybrid Navy represents is huge. Not just because it will transform the way we fight, but because it can create real economic opportunity for Britain."
Built for high-risk missions
According to its manufacturer, the YFQ-48A Talon Blue offers intelligent and timely target engagement as well as survivability in high-risk missions.
In USAF nomenclature a "Y" prefix means prototype – and the aircraft may well have been given the name Talon Blue to differentiate it from another USAF jet with a similar name – the T-38 Talon two-seat trainer.
Should the Talon – or any other jet-powered unmanned wingman the Navy chooses – enter operational service, it will offer a number of significant benefits.
It would act as a force multiplier, extending the capability provided by the 47 F-35B jets that are currently in RAF and Royal Navy service.
And crucially, the Talon could be sent forward of an F-35B host into more high-risk airspace, keeping the more valuable Lightning – and its pilot – further from harm's way.
What is Vanquish?
Project Vanquish was launched by the Royal Navy to seek proposals from industry for a technical demonstration of a fixed-wing, short take-off and landing, autonomous collaborative platform.
The jet-powered aircraft must be able to take off and land from a Queen Elizabeth-class carrier without the need for catapults or arrestor gear.
It will determine the ability of such an air vehicle to deliver maritime mission sets for carrier strike operations.
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