U.K. Royal Navy Uses Drone to Deliver Supplies between Warships for First Time

The U.K. Royal Navy has completed its first-ever supply delivery between warships using a British-made drone during its ongoing 2025 Indo-Pacific mission.

A Malloy T-150 octo-copter transported spare and repair parts from aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales to destroyer HMS Dauntless. The uncrewed aircraft flew autonomously over a mile before being guided by Dauntless crew for a safe landing on the ship’s flight deck.

The trial aims to reduce reliance on helicopters or small boats for resupply tasks, allowing them to focus on operational missions. The effort is part of the Royal Navy’s plan to integrate hybrid air wings on its Queen Elizabeth-class carriers, combining jets, long-range weapons, and drones, in line with the U.K. Strategic Defence Review.

Captain Colin McGannity, Commander Air Group for the UK Carrier Strike Group, added: “This milestone in the Malloy trials is a step toward the vision of a fully integrated hybrid carrier air wing. By taking some of the logistics burden, Malloy will allow our naval helicopters to concentrate on their core outputs, while delivering, rapid, more efficient resupply across the whole Strike Group.”

The ongoing trials, part of Operation Highmast, have already seen nearly 150 drone deck landings and more than 20 hours of flight. The eight-bladed T-150, built by Malloy Aeronautics – acquired by BAE Systems in 2024 – can carry up to 65 kilograms and reach speeds of 60 miles per hour.

HMS Prince of Wales is currently docked in Japan after completing port calls and exercises in the Mediterranean, Middle East, India, and Australia since departing the U.K. in April.