Royal Navy drone squadron works with US Army on supply trials

700X Naval Air Squadron tested a Malloy T-150 drone in a joint event hosted by the Eighth Army while in South Korea. 

At the Rodriguez Live Fire Complex, personnel from both countries looked at how technology could ease one of combat’s toughest challenges – moving supplies and casualties quickly in contested environments.

The drone proved it could transfer items like ammunition, water or medical kits over operational distances and quickly, but also provide support to those injured if other personnel cannot get to them. 

It comes as both the Royal Navy and the US Army look to utilise uncrewed and autonomous systems in operations.

Lieutenant James Couling, 700X NAS flight commander, said: “This joint training in South Korea is outstanding. 

“It allows us to operate in a new environment, practice carrying different types of supplies, and integrate with US forces as we test concepts for personnel movement and even casualty evacuation by drone.”

Planning for the event took six weeks and involved securing airspace, moving personnel and coordinating logistics between the UK, the Republic of Korea and the United States. 

Lieutenant Colonel Robert McDonough, Eighth Army’s aeromedical officer, said: “Resupply in a large-scale combat environment remains one of our greatest challenges. 

“Leveraging drones will help us move supplies to the front lines faster and could even be used to transport wounded solders to ambulance exchange points. 

“That capability could preserve the ‘golden hour’ in large scale combat operations and drastically increase survivability.”

Army medical leaders said the exercise was especially valuable for testing medical logistics.

“Deployment of drones like this will decrease the time it takes to resupply the front line with critical Class VIII medical supplies,” added Captain Ryan Schonewolf, environment science officer with the 168th Multifunctional Medical Battalion.

“This helps us modernise our ability to test both medical resupply and casualty evacuation.”

The trials in South Korea come as 700X also proved their ability to use drones to resupply at sea - in a historic first which saw the Royal Navy make a delivery of supplies between warships.

The same model of drone (the Malloy T-150) flew from flagship HMS Prince of Wales to destroyer HMS Dauntless during the UK’s Carrier Strike Group deployment to the Indo-Pacific – carrying critical supplies, including spare and repair parts from ship to ship.

The drone was flown autonomously during take off and sorties for just over a mile and was subsequently controlled by crews on Dauntless to guide it onto the ship’s flight deck and make a safe landing.