Project Vixen

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Project Vixen is the name of a Royal Navy programme examining the use of fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from its two aircraft carriers. The project likely draws its name from the de Havilland Sea Vixen, notable for being the Royal Navy's first two-seat carrier-based aircraft capable of supersonic flight. [1] The project is part of the navy's wider Future Maritime Aviation Force (FMAF) strategy to increase the use of uncrewed systems. [2]

Contents

Background

HMS Queen Elizabeth, one of two Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers. HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) underway in the Atlantic Ocean on 17 October 2019 (191017-N-QI061-2210).JPG
HMS Queen Elizabeth, one of two Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.

The Royal Navy operates two aircraft carriers of the Queen Elizabeth-class, HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) and HMS Prince of Wales (R09). Both of these ships feature a short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) configuration which means they are limited to operating STOVL aircraft, such as the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II, tiltrotor aircraft, or helicopters. This has presented the Royal Navy little choice in aircraft to undertake air-to-air refuelling, carrier on-board delivery and airborne early warning missions, which are better suited to heavier catapult-assisted but arrested recovery (CATOBAR) aircraft. [3] [4] Fixed-wing UAVs, however, are typically lighter than conventional aircraft and, due to this, they have been considered for these missions by the Royal Navy. [1] In 2012, speaking on the behalf of the Ministry of Defence (MOD), Defence Minister, Philip Dunne, stated publicly that he expected the Royal Navy to utilise UAVs from the Queen Elizabeth-class "at some point during their 50-year lifespans". [5] When questioned about the prospect again, in 2016, another Defence Minister, Earl Howe, stated that the Royal Navy viewed them as an "operational advantage", adding that the Queen Elizabeth-class had extensive flight decks, hangars and engineering support facilities to accommodate them. [6] He also revealed that the Royal Navy had evaluated capability concept demonstrators with Joint Forces Command in 2015. [7] In January 2021, it was reported that the Royal Navy was seeking a heavy lift UAV for the aircraft carriers to assist with logistics. [8]

Overview

On 24 March 2021, Project Vixen was first revealed to the public as a programme to evaluate the use of fixed-wing UAVs from the Queen Elizabeth-class. [9] The programme is reportedly examining their use in strike and air-to-air refuelling missions. [1]

Under Project Ark Royal, the Royal Navy is planning to install catapults and arrestor equipment to both aircraft carriers. [10] In March 2021, the MOD also issued a Request For Information (RFI) to the defence industry for electromagnetic catapults and arrestor cables capable of launching and recovering aircraft with a maximum weight of 24,948 kilograms (55,001 lb) and 21,319 kilograms (47,000 lb), respectively. The RFI also specified a need to install the system to the aircraft carriers within three–five years. [11] [12] Due to being somewhat underpowered for manned fighter aircraft, like the F-35C, the system is more likely to be used for UAV's. [12]

According to an official Royal Navy publication, titled Future Maritime Aviation Force, which was originally published in December 2020, the Royal Navy aims to replace its helicopter-based airborne early warning (AEW) platform, the Merlin HM2 Crowsnest, with a fixed-wing UAV, currently known as Vixen, by 2030. The Royal Navy also expects to utilise Vixen in surveillance, air-to-air refueling, electronic warfare and strike roles. [13]

In September 2021, the Royal Navy launched a fixed-wing UAV from an aircraft carrier for the first time when a Qinetiq Banshee Jet 80+ was launched from the deck of HMS Prince of Wales. The demonstration was made under a separate project, named Project Vampire, to evaluate how lightweight fixed-wing UAVs can be integrated onto the aircraft carriers. The aircraft, which is a target drone by design able to carry a sensor and weapon payload, was launched via a catapult and recovered by parachute. [14] [15] The larger W Autonmous Systems UAV and General Atomics Mojave were also successfully trialed in September and November 2023, respectively. [16] [17]

Potential designs

In 2015, the RAF launched its Lightweight Affordable Novel Combat Aircraft (LANCA) programme to deliver a fixed-wing UCAV to augment its fighter aircraft. The Spirit Mosquito, developed by Team Mosquito, was selected as a technology demonstrator for this programme. Vixen was likely to be derived from LANCA or even be identical to it; in July 2020, RAF Air Chief Marshall Sir Michael Wigston stated: “The RAF envisions an aircraft derived from LANCA’s Mosquito phase being used on the Royal Navy’s aircraft carriers alongside F-35B Lightnings”. [18] However, on 24 June 2022, the MOD announced the cancellation of Project Mosquito due to other "more beneficial" and cost-effective solutions being available. It is currently unknown how this affects Project Vixen. [19]

Royal Navy briefings have used the MQ-28 Ghost Bat, adapted with a tail hook necessary for carrier-borne recovery, as a representation of Vixen in service. [20] In July 2024, General Atomics Aeronautical Systems proposed its Gambit 5 UCAV. [21]

See also

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References

  1. 1 2 3 Lye, Harry (24 March 2021). "Royal Navy Project Vixen exploring potential Carrier UAS". Naval Technology. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  2. ↑ "The Royal Navy has ambitious plans for its Future Maritime Aviation Force". NavyLookout. 2 June 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  3. ↑ Majumdar, Dave (5 October 2018). "New Carrier, New Fighters: The F-35B Is Now Aboard Britain's Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier". The National Interest. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  4. ↑ "Cats, traps and claptrap. Why the Royal Navy's new aircraft carriers operate VSTOL aircraft". Navy Lookout. 19 October 2019.
  5. ↑ "Unmanned Air Vehicles". They Work For You. 25 November 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  6. ↑ "Aircraft Carriers: Unmanned Air Vehicles". They Work For You. 2 March 2016. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  7. ↑ "Aircraft Carriers: Unmanned Air Vehicles". They Work For You. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  8. ↑ "Royal Navy looking for heavy lift drone". UK Defence Journal . 1 January 2021. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  9. ↑ "Maritime Enterprise Planning Group" (PDF). GOV.UK. Retrieved 2 April 2021.
  10. ↑ Allison, George (18 November 2023). "Project Ark Royal – Plans for angled decks and drones". UK Defence Journal . Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  11. ↑ "Electromagnetic Catapults For Carriers Sought By UK Royal Navy". Aviation Week . 1 March 2021. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  12. 1 2 Lye, Harry (9 March 2021). "Royal Navy seeking information on cats and traps to launch drones". Naval Technology. Retrieved 31 March 2021.
  13. ↑ Allison, George (2 April 2021). "Royal Navy looking at fixed-wing carrier based drone for AEW". UK Defence Journal . Retrieved 7 April 2021.
  14. ↑ "Drones launched from HMS Prince of Wales during landmark demonstration". Royal Navy. 29 September 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  15. ↑ "Royal Navy Is Experimenting With Launching Jet-Powered Drones From Its New Carriers". The Drive. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 27 October 2021.
  16. ↑ "Royal Navy: Aircraft drone makes history landing on Royal Navy carrier at sea". Windracers. 8 September 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  17. ↑ "U.K. Aircraft Carrier HMS Prince of Wales Launches, Recovers Mojave Drone". United States Naval Institute . 17 November 2023. Retrieved 11 January 2025.
  18. ↑ "Cats, traps and UAS – the Royal Navy considers options for carrier-launched drones". NavyLookout. 14 April 2021. Retrieved 19 September 2021.
  19. ↑ Allison, George (25 June 2022). "Mosquito drone project swatted". UK Defence Journal . Retrieved 25 June 2022.
  20. ↑ "Mojave RPAS Flies From HMS Prince of Wales Aircraft Carrier". The Avationist. 10 January 2025. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
  21. ↑ "General Atomics proposes its Gambit UCAV concept for Royal Navy's aircraft carriers". NavyLookout. 24 July 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2025.
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