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The Royal Navy has declared two new drone systems ready for operational use, boosting the ability of both warships and Royal Marines to conduct missions in challenging environments.
After two years of trials and testing alongside partner forces, the Malloy T150 uncrewed air system has been cleared for front-line deployment. The heavy-lift drone will deliver supplies, including ammunition, weapons, food, personal equipment and medical stores to Royal Marines Commandos operating in remote or hostile terrain.
At the same time, the Peregrine rotary-wing drone, based on the Schiebel Camcopter S-100, has formally entered service with the fleet, providing advanced intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities to Royal Navy warships.
Royal Marines and drone operators from 700X Naval Air Squadron and the Commando Logistic Regiment have trialled the Malloy T150 over the past eight months, putting the system through its paces from the Arctic to the Indian Ocean. The platform has since been declared ready to “release to service”.
The Malloy T150 has proved particularly valuable in resupplying troops where conventional supply routes are impractical. Featuring eight rotors, a top speed of 96 km/h (60 mph), and a payload capacity of 68 kilograms, the drone can operate for up to 40 minutes per flight. It requires a two-person team to operate and can be flown manually or on pre-set autonomous routes.
Brigadier Chris Haw, head of the Commando Forces Program, said the system marked a major step in integrating digital and autonomous technologies into front-line operations.
“The introduction of logistic drones represents a significant expansion in the Commando Force’s use of uncrewed aerial systems, beyond those already in service for surveillance and reconnaissance,” he said.
“It reduces the risk to personnel during tactical resupply and has great potential for broader use across the force.”
The Malloy system has already demonstrated its versatility during Carrier Strike Group operations in the Indo-Pacific, where it successfully delivered supplies between HMS Prince of Wales and HMS Dauntless in a first-of-its-kind trial.
Alongside the Malloy, the Peregrine mini-helicopter has now joined the fleet, developed in partnership with Thales and Schiebel. Equipped with the Thales IMaster radar, Peregrine provides world-class, all-weather surveillance and target tracking, extending the reach of Royal Navy warships far beyond the horizon.
The system has already proven itself on counter-narcotics missions in the Gulf, where it supported HMS Lancaster in drug interdiction operations.
Captain Dave Gillett, head of Navy Develop’s Maritime Aviation and Carrier Strike, described the introduction of Peregrine as a “game changer”.
“Its successful deployment with HMS Lancaster shows how uncrewed systems can deliver real operational advantage, extending our surveillance reach and enhancing decision making in theatre,” he said.
Both systems have been developed in close collaboration with industry. Neil Appleton, CEO of Malloy Aeronautics, said the clearance of the T150 was a proud milestone, describing the platform as a “game changer for the modern battlefield”.
Marie Gayrel, Thales vice-president for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, said Peregrine reflected the Royal Navy’s focus on innovation.
“Its operational success aboard HMS Lancaster demonstrates the potential of rotary-wing uncrewed systems to transform maritime operations,” she said.
Together, the Malloy T150 and Peregrine mark a significant expansion of the Royal Navy’s uncrewed capabilities – reshaping how Britain’s maritime and commando forces operate in contested environments.
