Royal Australian Navy completes first trials of Edge 130 tri-copter drone aboard patrol boat.

On December 1, 2025, the Australian Ministry of Defence announced that the Royal Australian Navy had completed the first-of-class trials of the Edge 130 tricopter drone aboard the patrol boat HMAS Cape Pillar. The results point to a meaningful boost in coastal surveillance and small-warship capabilities as unmanned systems gain wider acceptance.

The Australian Ministry of Defence confirmed on December 1, 2025, that the Royal Australian Navy concluded its inaugural test campaign of the Edge 130 tricopter drone aboard the patrol boat HMAS Cape Pillar. Conducted in September across Darwin Harbour and nearby littoral waters, the flights were designed to validate safe deck operations and assess how a compact unmanned aircraft can extend the sensor reach of minor warships. Defence officials noted that the platform demonstrated stable performance throughout its evolution, offering crews a clearer understanding of how unmanned systems might fit into routine coastal patrols.
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Royal Australian Navy sailors launch the Edge 130 tri-copter drone from the deck of HMAS Cape Pillar during operational trials in Darwin Harbour, showcasing the integration of uncrewed aerial systems into frontline patrol missions. (Picture source: Australia MoD)

Designed for lightweight, modular deployment, the Edge 130 drone weighs just 1.2 kilograms but offers advanced aerial surveillance and tactical flexibility. With beyond-visual-line-of-sight (BVLOS) capability, swappable lithium-ion batteries, and compatibility with a variety of sensors, the system is engineered for high-tempo maritime operations. The drone’s compact design enables rapid launch and recovery aboard small vessels, filling a critical intelligence and reconnaissance gap that has traditionally been underserved by manned aviation assets in coastal patrols.

The trials aboard HMAS Cape Pillar began with technical integration and remote-pilot training, followed by the operational development of onboard procedures and test flights alongside HMAS Coonawarra. Full operational assessment was conducted at sea under live conditions, simulating mission profiles across diverse coastal terrain, including mangroves, shallow inlets, and offshore surveillance zones. These are precisely the environments where uncrewed systems provide strategic advantage, reducing crew exposure and extending a vessel’s situational awareness far beyond visual and radar line of sight.

For naval forces, the integration of compact aerial drones like the Edge 130 represents a turning point in distributed maritime operations. On minor warships such as the Cape-class patrol boats, drones serve as force multipliers by extending the ship’s sensor range and enhancing maritime domain awareness without increasing crew workload or requiring aerial support from larger platforms. The ability to conduct persistent over-the-horizon reconnaissance enables commanders to detect, classify, and monitor contacts without diverting assets or exposing personnel.

The Edge 130's operational flexibility supports multiple mission profiles. In constabulary roles, drones can patrol remote coastlines for illegal fishing, smuggling, or unauthorised maritime activity, providing real-time video and thermal imaging in hard-to-access environments. In search-and-rescue missions, drones offer rapid deployment and overwatch, increasing the likelihood of detection in time-sensitive scenarios. In tactical operations, they provide critical overwatch, early warning, and terrain mapping support during interdiction efforts, particularly in shallow or confined waters unsuitable for larger platforms.

Throughout the trials, the Edge 130 demonstrated reliable stability during offshore flight, including successful sorties in varying wind conditions and challenging coastal terrain. The final phase included a multi-ship coordination test near Charles Point, during which the drone captured high-resolution aerial images of a formation comprising HMA Ships Cape Pillar, Albany, and Cape Woolamai. This showcased not only its imaging quality but also the ability to integrate into fleet-level operations as a flexible reconnaissance asset.

The success of the Edge 130 aboard Cape Pillar is part of a broader trend toward expanding the use of uncrewed systems across the Royal Australian Navy. With increasing maritime challenges in the Indo-Pacific, particularly in Australia’s northern approaches, drone-equipped patrol vessels offer a cost-effective, scalable solution for surveillance across vast maritime zones. The system has already been operationalised in support of Joint Task Force 639, with drones deployed to monitor mangrove-dense areas for illegal fishing—an application that underscores the real-world value of these platforms for persistent maritime security enforcement.

As naval doctrine evolves to embrace distributed lethality and unmanned integration, platforms like the Edge 130 offer a practical, operationally proven solution to expand surveillance reach, reduce risk, and enhance the effectiveness of even the smallest naval units. With this first operational milestone now achieved, the Edge 130 is positioned to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of maritime patrol operations for Australia and allied navies facing similar coastal defence challenges.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.