British MoD releases Request for Information to acquire Maritime Heavy Lift UAS.

On December 18, 2020, the British Ministry of Defense (MoD) has released a Request for Information to acquire Maritime Heavy Lift UAS (Unmanned Aerial System) for the British Navy.
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British Navy and DARE (Discover, Analysis and Rapid Exploitation) have been working with UK drone firm Malloy Aeronautics and Planck Aerosystems in the development of unmanned air vehicles for the purpose of moving supplies onto ships. (Picture source UK Defence Journal)

The British Ministry Of Defence (MoD) is currently seeking information in order to qualify requirements and develop our understanding of the potential for the market to provide an autonomous maritime airborne heavy lift capability for the Royal Navy.

The purpose of this Request for Information ("RFI") is to enhance the British MoD awareness and allow for initial review of a range of maritime airborne autonomous capabilities that currently exist or are in development within the marketplace to support the development of the RN's Autonomy network and the creation of the Future Maritime Aviation Force (FMAF, the rapid transformation of crewed aviation roles (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance, Communications, Lift and Strike) to uncrewed).

In June 2020, the British Navy has announced that Royal Navy’s experts in getting new technology to the frontline quickly are trialing the use of heavy-lift drones for future use on warships. British Navy and British companies work in the development of unmanned air vehicles for the purpose of moving supplies onto ships. A heavy-lift drone has already been put through its paces in the harsh environment of the Arctic Circle in the Royal Navy’s Autonomous Advance Force exercise. In northern Norway earlier this year, it proved it could be operated safely in all conditions and could successfully deliver stores.

The use of unmanned air vehicles in the logistics role offers a range of advantages from reduced costs, missions being completed quicker and the ship’s company not being exposed to certain risks.