The UK Royal Navy has officially declared two unmanned aerial systems (UAS)—the Malloy T150 quadcopter and the AeroVironment Puma 2 AE fixed-wing drone—operational for frontline deployment. These platforms are tailored to support maritime intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition, reconnaissance (ISTAR), and ship-to-ship logistics operations. Their induction marks a significant step in the Royal Navy’s push toward autonomous capabilities in contested littoral environments.
Operational Capability Milestone for Two Distinct UAS Platforms
According to a September 2025 announcement by the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD), both the Malloy T150 and Puma 2 AE have passed rigorous testing phases and are now certified as operational assets within the Royal Navy’s fleet. The declaration follows extensive evaluation under the Royal Navy’s Future Maritime Aviation Force (FMAF) initiative—a modernization program aimed at integrating uncrewed systems into naval operations.
The two systems serve complementary roles:
- Malloy T150: A heavy-lift multirotor drone designed for short-range logistics missions such as resupplying ships at sea or delivering critical parts across vessels.
- Puma 2 AE: A hand-launched fixed-wing UAS optimized for over-the-horizon ISR missions from ships or shore-based facilities.
This dual-track approach reflects the Royal Navy’s broader strategy to diversify its uncrewed portfolio across mission sets—from persistent surveillance to urgent resupply—while reducing dependency on manned platforms in high-risk or logistically complex environments.
Malloy T150: Tactical Heavy-Lift Drone with Naval Utility
The Malloy T150 is developed by UK-based Malloy Aeronautics. It is a battery-electric vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) platform capable of carrying payloads up to approximately 68 kg (150 lbs), hence its designation. With a range of up to 70 km depending on payload weight and weather conditions, it is well-suited for intra-fleet resupply tasks such as transporting ammunition, spare parts, or medical supplies between ships or from ship to shore.
Key specifications include:
- Payload capacity: ~68 kg
- Range: ~70 km (variable with payload)
- Crew requirement: Operated by a two-person team
- Flight endurance: ~30–40 minutes depending on load
The drone can be launched from confined spaces such as flight decks or small landing pads aboard auxiliary vessels. Its electric propulsion offers low acoustic signature—an advantage in stealthy logistics—and reduces maintenance complexity compared to combustion-engine alternatives. The system has already been tested in NATO exercises including REPMUS (Robotic Experimentation and Prototyping using Maritime Uncrewed Systems) in Portugal.
Puma 2 AE: Persistent Maritime ISR from Compact Launch Platforms
The Puma 2 AE is a proven Group I UAS manufactured by AeroVironment Inc., widely used by NATO forces including the US Army and Marine Corps. In Royal Navy service, it provides real-time electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) surveillance capability over maritime domains where radar coverage may be limited or where persistent visual confirmation is required.
Puma’s key features include:
- Wingspan: ~2.8 meters
- Endurance: Up to 3 hours
- Sensors: Mantis i45 gimbal with EO/IR cameras and laser illuminator
- Datalink range: Up to ~20 km line-of-sight with encrypted communications
The system can be hand-launched from small vessels such as offshore patrol vessels (OPVs) or rigid inflatable boats (RIBs). Its compact footprint makes it ideal for distributed maritime operations where larger UAVs like ScanEagle or MQ-9B SeaGuardian are impractical due to size constraints. The Puma provides overwatch during boarding operations, anti-piracy patrols, or environmental monitoring near critical infrastructure like undersea cables.
Tactical Integration into Future Maritime Aviation Force Doctrine
The operationalization of these drones aligns with FMAF’s vision of deploying modular uncrewed systems alongside manned aviation assets such as Merlin helicopters or F-35B jets aboard Queen Elizabeth-class carriers. While neither Malloy nor Puma replaces existing platforms outright, they augment them by enabling distributed operations without requiring large deck space or complex launch/recovery infrastructure.
This fits within broader NATO trends emphasizing multi-domain integration through smaller autonomous systems that can operate independently but also networked via Link-16 or proprietary datalinks into C4ISR frameworks. According to Commodore Steve Prest of the Royal Navy’s Aviation Branch (interviewed during DSEI London), “We’re not just buying drones—we’re building an ecosystem that allows us to sense more persistently and act faster.”
Procurement Pathways and Industrial Partnerships
The MOD has not disclosed exact contract values but confirmed that both systems were procured under rapid capability acquisition pathways supported by Defence Equipment & Support (DE&S). The Malloy platform benefits from UK industrial content under sovereign drone development initiatives; meanwhile AeroVironment’s Puma was acquired through Foreign Military Sales channels but integrated with British command-and-control software layers.
This dual procurement model reflects MOD’s hybrid approach—leveraging domestic innovation while integrating proven allied technologies—to accelerate fielding timelines without waiting for bespoke development cycles. It also supports interoperability with NATO partners using similar platforms in joint maritime task groups.
Implications for Naval Autonomy Strategy Going Forward
The declaration of these two UAS as operational marks an inflection point in how the Royal Navy approaches autonomy at sea—not merely as experimental adjuncts but as deployable tools embedded into daily operations. Their use cases span peacetime presence missions through grey-zone deterrence scenarios where risk mitigation via unmanned assets becomes tactically decisive.
This also opens pathways toward more advanced future capabilities including AI-enabled swarm coordination, autonomous launch/recovery mechanisms on Type-26 frigates or Littoral Strike Ships, and integration with underwater unmanned vehicles (UUVs) via cross-domain command architectures.
Conclusion: From Trials to Fleet Integration
The Royal Navy’s declaration of full operational capability for both the Malloy T150 heavy-lift drone and Puma 2 AE tactical UAV represents more than just technological adoption—it signals doctrinal evolution toward distributed maritime autonomy. As these systems transition from trials into routine deployment cycles aboard surface combatants and support vessels alike, they will shape how future naval forces project power efficiently across dispersed theaters while minimizing risk exposure.
