Royal Navy's jet-powered drones project completed

The navy Banshee drones have now been retired from service, with the Fleet Air Arm team having achieved its objectives.

In 2023, a flight was created by 700X Naval Air Squadron to understand how to fly and operate these high-speed jet-powered drones. With speeds of up to 400 mph, the drones were a substantial development in capability for the squadron.

Supplied with Banshee Jet 80+ systems, made by company QinetiQ, the team operated the drones from Predannack Airfield in Cornwall, close to their base at RNAS Culdrose.

Banshee flight commander Lieutenant Tony Nairn said: “The project has not been without its challenges and the novel concept of trialling a remotely-piloted jet system has required resilience from inception.

“The team has now established the foundations on which future agile projects can be built. This has been achieved through extensive generation and recording of the lessons experienced.

“While the Banshee air system will not become an in-service capability, it’s importance must not be underestimated. In this area of growth, what comes next is determined by what was done today.”

In the build up to this year’s carrier strike deployment led by HMS Prince of Wales, the Banshees were used as targets, simulating incoming threats to test air defences by the ship and its aircraft. Exercises have taken place where the drones have been destroyed by air-to-air missiles from F35 jets and Wildcat attack helicopters.

Lieutenant Commander Steve Cooke, the commanding officer of 700X NAS, said he was pleased with the results of the project, adding that the navy is always looking to try new systems in the fast-paced world of drone technology.

He added: “Banshee has given us invaluable knowledge in how to operate high-speed drones. It’s also allowed us to assist with force generation for the carrier strike group. We are ready now for whatever the next capability will be.”

The squadron has deployable flights that use Puma, a fixed-wing reconnaissance drone which can be easily launched without the need for flight deck. Last year it successfully trialled remotely-piloted mini-helicopters called Peregrine, which have been used successfully with HMS Lancaster in the Gulf.

This year it is introducing the Malloy T-150, an octo-copter load-lifting drone that will be used for the first time to transfer supplied between ships during the 2025 carrier strike deployment.