Exclusive: British Royal Navy tests Malloy drone for maritime logistics on aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales.

The British Royal Navy has launched a significant new phase in unmanned systems integration by testing the Malloy Aeronautics Heavy Lift Drone aboard the British Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales as part of the UK’s 2025 Carrier Strike Group deployment, Operation Highmast. On July 9, 2025, members of the 700X Naval Air Squadron conducted test flights of the heavy-lift drone from the carrier’s flight deck, marking a pivotal moment in the British Royal Navy’s pursuit of autonomous aerial logistics in maritime warfare. This initiative represents a forward-looking effort to reduce operational risk, expand logistical reach, and increase combat effectiveness in dispersed naval operations across the globe.
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British Royal Navy 700X Naval Air Squadron personnel position a Malloy Aeronautics Heavy Lift Drone for test flight on the flight deck of British Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales on July 9, 2025. (Picture source: British Royal Navy)

The 700X Naval Air Squadron is the British Royal Navy’s specialist unit for the experimentation, testing, and deployment of Remotely Piloted Air Systems (RPAS) within maritime environments. Operating under the Fleet Air Arm, the squadron is tasked with introducing next-generation unmanned capabilities into the fleet. It serves as the core testbed for autonomous aviation technologies and has become the driving force behind the British Royal Navy’s ambition to modernize its logistics and surveillance infrastructure with drone systems suited for both shipboard and littoral operations.

The Malloy Aeronautics Heavy Lift Drone, currently undergoing trials, is a vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) unmanned aerial vehicle designed for rapid and robust logistic support missions. Manufactured in the United Kingdom, the drone has a payload capacity exceeding 180 kilograms and is capable of autonomous or semi-autonomous operation over distances of up to 70 kilometers. Built with an electric propulsion system, it offers a reduced thermal and acoustic signature—key advantages in modern maritime and amphibious warfare environments where stealth and survivability are critical. The drone’s modular architecture allows rapid reconfiguration for varied mission profiles, including emergency resupply, casualty evacuation support, or delivery of precision equipment to frontline units.

The British Royal Navy aims to utilize such heavy-lift drone platforms to significantly enhance its tactical logistics capacity during high-intensity operations. In scenarios where helicopters may be at risk from enemy fire or where manned resupply is inefficient or impractical, these drones can deliver critical supplies between ships, to forces ashore, or directly to dispersed units operating beyond traditional logistic reach. This capability is particularly relevant during amphibious operations, contested landings, and extended missions in denied or degraded environments. The trials aboard HMS Prince of Wales demonstrate the operational feasibility of deploying unmanned heavy-lift drones from aircraft carriers under real-world conditions, including turbulent wind decks, saltwater exposure, and dynamic mission requirements.

These tests are being conducted during Operation Highmast, the British Royal Navy’s major 2025 deployment that brings together warships, aircraft, and military personnel from over a dozen allied nations for a series of strategic exercises across the Mediterranean, Middle East, and Indo-Pacific. The operation involves more than 4,500 British military personnel, including 2,500 British Royal Navy sailors and Royal Marines, nearly 600 Royal Air Force personnel, and 900 soldiers from the British Army. The deployment reinforces the United Kingdom’s defense commitments in global maritime regions and serves as a live platform for demonstrating emerging capabilities.

Malloy Aeronautics, a British defense technology firm based in Berkshire, has developed the Heavy Lift Drone as part of its portfolio of autonomous air systems designed to meet NATO and UK Ministry of Defence requirements for operational flexibility and sustainability. The company’s collaboration with the British Royal Navy in these trials reflects a broader defense industry trend toward rapid integration of autonomous systems that reduce logistical vulnerabilities while enhancing mission tempo and resilience.

The integration of the Malloy Aeronautics Heavy Lift Drone aboard the British Royal Navy aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales marks a decisive advancement in the service’s adoption of unmanned aerial logistics for maritime combat operations. As the British Royal Navy continues to modernize under the Future Maritime Aviation Force concept, platforms like the Malloy drone offer a highly adaptable, low-risk solution for resupplying dispersed units, supporting ship-to-shore operations, and sustaining naval forces in high-threat environments. The ability to transport heavy payloads autonomously in challenging conditions will significantly enhance operational endurance, reduce reliance on manned helicopters for routine logistics, and increase resilience across the fleet. For international observers, the British Royal Navy’s successful trials of this drone technology demonstrate its leadership in integrating emerging unmanned systems into naval doctrine, reaffirming its role as a forward-leaning force in multi-domain maritime warfare.