Heavy-lift drones: With no human lives at risk, could they replace the helicopter?

Medical evacuation for wounded soldiers. Ammunition resupply for those still in the fight. Close air support to bring battles to a close.

For generations, these are tasks that have been carried out by a variety of military helicopters.

But the defence industry is developing rotary blade systems to perform dangerous missions without risking the lives of an onboard crew.

Quadcopter drones that are in development, like the Hydra or the T-650, are closing in on production readiness.

BAE Systems says the latter can pull a payload of 300kg for 30km.

If the military did see a solution with smaller running costs and an even smaller risk to life, what would it mean for the future of the military helicopter?

Predicting heavy-lift drones will increasingly enter service from 2025 onwards, Douglas Barrie, an aerospace expert at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, an authority on global security, political risk and military conflict,  believes responsibilities could shift.

"Anti-surface warfare, anti-submarine warfare, surveillance. 'Redesigned' is probably the wrong phrase, but they'll be recalibrated," he said.

Mr Barrie disagrees with the concept of direct replacement.

It's understood a working relationship alongside drones would likely see helicopters perform different tasks on behalf of a stretched British military.

While Ukraine has routinely sacrificed drones over crewed systems, the matter of "life and death" isn't always removed.

If a unit relies on the successful delivery of ammunition to stay in a firefight, there could be demand for a drone with similar defensive attributes to a helicopter – to avoid being shot down before delivery.

Defence could categorise drones, explained Mr Barrie, ranging from "exquisite" and not so cheap, all the way to "disposable".

The solution to the above scenario would lie somewhere in between.

"You're going to see a great deal of experimentation, because some of the roles that these systems are going to be used for... people will only think of them once they get them actually in service," he explained.

While the role of helicopters appears safe, virtual concept footage of a T-650 evacuating a battlefield casualty without risk to a crew will surely grab the attention of the MOD, being focused more on the safety of its people.