Role
Remotely-piloted air systems (RPAS) - better known as drones – play an important role across the whole of the Armed Forces.
700X Naval Air Squadron is the Royal Navy’s drone expert unit. Although based at Royal Naval Air Station Culdrose, the squadron has developed nearby Predannack Airfield as a centre to train and test RPAS and their operators.
The squadron has a team of deployable flights which use the Puma RPAS for surveillance. Lightweight and easy to launch without the need for flight deck, these versatile drones extend the range of a warship’s sensors to scout out targets or suspect vessels. 700X Naval Air Squadron also trains teams of Royal Marine Commandoes how to use Puma RPAS for reconnaissance.
The squadron also has deployable flights with Malloy T-150 ‘octo-copters’, which can move supplies where they are needed, whether that is across a battlefield or between ships in a carrier strike group.
Flights from 700X NAS use the Peregrine, a remote-piloted helicopter drones which is fitted with a powerful radar and cameras. It provides a world-class, all weather, day and night surveillance, tracking and target identification capability to support commanders in complex maritime and coastline areas.
Key to the Royal Navy’s warfighting ability is the concept of a hybrid navy – where drones operate alongside crewed aircraft in joint operations. Developing safe practices and understanding the capabilities of such technology is vital as the Royal Navy moves ahead in this field of emerging technology.
700X Naval Air Squadron also provides training across Defence in the use of RPAS and quadcopters. The squadron includes a team dedicated to researching new systems and evaluating their use within the Royal Navy.
Operating under the motto ‘Experientia Docet’ – ‘Experience Teaches’ – the squadron has a long history of testing cutting-edge new aircraft including the Merlin and Wildcat helicopters.