Navy swaps helicopters for BAE-built drones to transport supplies around ships

By DAILY MAIL CITY & FINANCE REPORTER

Updated: 22:01 BST, 8 April 2025

Drones built in Britain will be used for the first time to transport supplies around Royal Navy ships deployed in the Pacific this year.

Nine unmanned drones made by Malloy Aeronautics, which is owned by defence giant BAE Systems, will help to move supplies including defence equipment, food and packages from home.

The T-150 ‘quadcopters’ can lift up to 10 stone and go as fast as 60mph.

They will be used as an alternative to helicopters by three ships in the Indo-Pacific. Neil Appleton, Malloy chief executive, said: ‘We are proud to contribute to this important deployment.’

Unmanned drones have become increasingly critical to armed forces as the war in Ukraine has demonstrated their ability to surveil and attack enemies.

They are a cheaper and more dispensable way of aerial warfare compared to fighter jets and helicopters. They can also be controlled from thousands of miles away.

Unmanned: The Royal Navy will use nine drones to help move supplies including defence equipment, food and packages from home between ships

DIY INVESTING PLATFORMS

AJ Bell

AJ Bell

Easy investing and ready-made portfolios

Hargreaves Lansdown

Hargreaves Lansdown

Free fund dealing and investment ideas

interactive investor

interactive investor

Flat-fee investing from £4.99 per month

Saxo

Saxo

Get £200 back in trading fees

Trading 212

Trading 212

Free dealing and no account fee

Affiliate links: If you take out a product This is Money may earn a commission. These deals are chosen by our editorial team, as we think they are worth highlighting. This does not affect our editorial independence.

Compare the best investing account for you

:
Navy swaps helicopters for BAE-built drones to transport supplies around ships

***
Read more at DailyMail.co.uk