Engineering:Drone carrier

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Short description: Ship that transports and launches drones
Bayraktar Kızılelma carrier-capable drone on the deck of TCG Anadolu (L-400).

A drone carrier is a crewed or uncrewed ship equipped with a flight deck on which unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) can take off and land. In addition to unmanned aerial vehicles, a drone carrier can also launch unmanned underwater vehicles and unmanned surface vehicles.

Drone carriers can be used for both civilian and (more commonly) military purposes. As a naval vessel, a drone carrier enables a fleet the ability to launch and retrieve combat drones (UCAVs) without the need for the larger aircraft carriers. In March 2013, DARPA began efforts to develop a fleet of small naval vessels capable of conducting drone warfare without the need for large and expensive carrier strike groups.[1]

In November 2014, US DoD made an open request for ideas on how to build an airborne aircraft carrier that can launch and retrieve drones using existing military aircraft such as the B-1B, B-52 or C-130.[2]

Developmental history

Turkey

In February 2021, President of the Turkish Presidency of Defense Industries (SSB) Ismail Demir made public a new type of UAV being developed by Baykar that is planned to be stationed on Turkey's first amphibious assault ship, TCG Anadolu.[3] The new aircraft Baykar Bayraktar TB3 being developed is a naval version of the Bayraktar TB2 equipped with a local engine developed by TEI.[4] According to the initial plans, the ship was expected to be equipped with F-35B fighter jets, but following the removal of Turkey from the procurement program, the vessel entered into a modification process to be able to accommodate UAVs. Mr. Demir stated that between 30 and 50 folding-winged Bayraktar TB3 UAVs will be able to land and take off using the deck of Anadolu.[5][6]

On 19 November 2024, Baykar Bayraktar TB3 UAV successfully landed and took-off from TCG Anadolu.[7] It was the first time a fixed-wing unmanned aircraft of this size and class had successfully landed on a short-runway landing helicopter dock.[8]

China

See also: Type 076 landing helicopter dock

On May 18, 2022, the first Chinese unmanned drone carrier named Zhuhai Cloud ("Zhu Hai Yun") was launched in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province in China, intended to advance marine research and economics.[9][10] In May 2024, a possible drone carrier, with a catamaran layout and low flight deck, was spotted in the Jiangsu Dayang Marine Shipyards.[11]

Confirming the speculative role of the UAV carrier, Captain Chi Jianjun, a Chinese Navy official, announced that the recently launched Type 076-class Sichuan warship will operate UAVs, as will many other vessels in the PLAN.[12][13]

Iran

Iran also built a drone carrier (named Shahid Bagheri) with an estimated 160 to 180m long flight deck by converting a container ship.[14] It is reported that several kinds of drones (60 drones) and helicopters can take off from and land on the said carrier. She also carry several anti-ship and anti-air missiles for protection and 30 (50 speedboats) Ashura-class missile speedboats with herself.[15][16][17][18]

Portugal

Portuguese navy plans, for the second half of 2026,[19] to deliver the NRP D. João II, a platform ship capable of operating aerial, surface and underwater drones, as well as medium (Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk) and heavy (EH101 Merlin) helicopters of the Portuguese air force.[20]

South Korea

On 12 November 2024, the South Korean Navy conducted a Gray Eagle STOL UAV take-off test aboard the amphibious assault ship ROKS Dokdo to test the ship's ability to carry fixed-wing UAVs. The Gray Eagle UAV took off from Dokdo, flew twice close to her port side to perform a "simulated landing procedure", but did not land on the ship.[21] The Korean company Hanwha Ocean has presented several concepts for the production of UAV carrier or carriers of other unmanned vehicles in its proposed project called Ghost Commander.[22]

United Kingdom

A Mojave UAV onboard HMS Prince of Wales in November 2023.

In 2000s, in the UK the UXV Combatant, which would have been a ship dedicated to UCAVs, was proposed for the Royal Navy.[23]

The Royal Navy intends to operate fixed-wing drones from its two Script error: The function "sclass" does not exist.s to boost their combat mass.[24][25] In trials, it successfully launched and recovered a Qinetiq Banshee Jet 80+, a W Autonomous Systems UAV and a General Atomics Mojave.[26] Under Project Ark Royal, it is considering the installation of catapults and arrestor systems to launch and recover larger drones which are being procured under Project Vixen.[27] Royal Navy briefings have used a carrier-based variant of the MQ-28 Ghost Bat as a representative of Vixen, and General Atomics has proposed its Gambit 5.[28]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Darpa looks to use small ships as drone bases". BBC. 4 March 2013. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21653364. 
  2. ↑ Lendon, Brad (11 November 2014). "Pentagon wants ideas for flying aircraft carrier". CNN. http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/11/tech/innovation/flying-aircraft-carrier/index.html. 
  3. ↑ SABAH, DAILY (2021-03-25). "Turkey's TCG Anadolu to allow drones to land, takeoff in global 1st" (in en-US). https://www.dailysabah.com/business/defense/turkeys-tcg-anadolu-to-allow-drones-to-land-takeoff-in-global-1st. 
  4. ↑ AA, DAILY SABAH WITH (2020-10-30). "Local engines to power Turkey's cutting-edge combat drones" (in en-US). https://www.dailysabah.com/business/defense/local-engines-to-power-turkeys-cutting-edge-combat-drones. 
  5. ↑ Ozberk, Tayfun (2021-04-29). "Turkey plans to deploy attack drones from its amphibious assault ship" (in en-US). https://www.defensenews.com/global/2021/03/11/turkey-plans-to-deploy-attack-drones-from-its-amphibious-assault-ship/. 
  6. ↑ Axe, David. "Behold The Turkish Navy's Drone Aircraft Carrier" (in en). https://www.forbes.com/sites/davidaxe/2021/05/10/behold-the-turkish-navys-drone-aircraft-carrier/. 
  7. ↑ Trevithick, Joseph (2024-11-19). "TB3 Operates From Turkey's 'Drone Carrier' Amphibious Assault Ship For The First Time" (in en-US). https://www.twz.com/air/tb3-drone-lands-takes-off-from-turkeys-drone-carrier-amphibious-assault-ship. 
  8. ↑ Ozberk, Tayfun (2024-11-19). "Bayraktar TB3 Takes off and land aboard Turkish carrier" (in en-US). https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/11/bayraktar-tb3-takesoff-and-land-aboard-turkish-carrier/. 
  9. ↑ Huang, Kristin (19 May 2022). "Does China's new drone mother ship have potential as a military vessel?". https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3179471/does-chinas-new-drone-mother-ship-have-potential-military. 
  10. ↑ "CSSC Launches World's First "Drone Carrier"". 19 May 2022. https://maritime-executive.com/article/cssc-launches-world-s-first-drone-carrier. 
  11. ↑ Kesteloo, Haye (15 May 2024). "China's Secretive New Drone Carrier: The World's First" (in en). https://dronexl.co/2024/05/15/chinas-secretive-new-drone-carrier/. 
  12. ↑ "Chinese Officer Confirms "Drone Carrier" Role for World's Largest Amphib" (in en). https://maritime-executive.com/article/chinese-officer-confirms-drone-carrier-role-for-world-s-largest-amphib. 
  13. ↑ "PLA Navy confirms new Type 076 amphibious assault ship will be a drone carrier" (in en). 2025-01-13. https://www.scmp.com/news/china/military/article/3294568/china-confirms-pla-navys-new-type-076-amphibious-assault-ship-will-be-drone-carrier. 
  14. ↑ "ناو پهپادبر ایرانی در مراحل نهایی ساخت / از معرفی تا بررسی احتمال عملیاتی شدن پهپاد قاهر روی «ناو پهپادبر شهید باقری» +تصاویر" (in fa). 25 November 2024. https://snn.ir/fa/news/1197743/ناو-پهپادبر-ایرانی-در-مراحل-نهایی-ساخت-از-معرفی-تا-بررسی-احتمال-عملیاتی-شدن-پهپاد-قاهر-روی-ناو-پهپادبر-شهید-باقری-تصاویر. 
  15. ↑ "H I Sutton - Covert Shores". http://www.hisutton.com/Iran-IRGC-Drone-Carrier-Update.html. 
  16. ↑ "سردار تنگسیری: ناو پهپادبر شهید باقری به‌زودی رونمایی می‌شود/ حضور شناورهای سپاه در آب‌های دوردست". 2023-02-23. https://www.farsnews.ir/news/14011204000790/سردار-تنگسیری-ناو-پهپادبر-شهید-باقری-به‌زودی-رونمایی-می‌شود-حضور. 
  17. ↑ Iddon, Paul. "Turkey And Iran Are Commissioning Unique Drone Carriers" (in en). https://www.forbes.com/sites/pauliddon/2023/05/09/turkey-and-iran-are-commissioning-unique-drone-carriers/. 
  18. ↑ "Iran Completes Building Its First Drone Carrier Called Shahid Bagheri | Defense Express" (in en). https://en.defence-ua.com/news/iran_completes_building_its_first_drone_carrier_called_shahid_bagheri-11610.html. 
  19. ↑ "Delivery forecast NRP D. João II" (in pt). marinha.pt. 11 November 2023. https://www.marinha.pt/pt/media-center/Noticias/Paginas/Contrato-para-a-construcao-do-futuro-NRP-D--Joao-II-foi-hoje-assinado.aspx#:~:text=Est%C3%A1%20previsto%20que%20a%20plataforma%20entre%20ao%20servi%C3%A7o%20no%20segundo%20semestre%20de%202026.. 
  20. ↑ "Air capabilities NRP D. João II slide nº6" (in pt). marinha.pt. https://www.marinha.pt/conteudos_externos/Revista_Armada/PDF/2024/RA_592.pdf. 
  21. ↑ Cha, Eunhyuk (2024-11-13). "ROK Navy tests Mojave drone aboard ROKS Dokdo" (in en-US). https://www.navalnews.com/naval-news/2024/11/rok-navy-tests-mojave-drone-aboard-roks-dokdo/. 
  22. ↑ "MADEX 2023: Hanwha Ocean unveils command ship concept for unmanned systems" (in en). 2023-06-08. https://www.janes.com/osint-insights/defence-news/sea/madex-2023-hanwha-ocean-unveils-command-ship-concept-for-unmanned-systems. 
  23. ↑ "Warships of Tomorrow". Popular Science. www.popsci.com. 15 February 2008. http://www.popsci.com/military-aviation-space/article/2008-02/warships-tomorrow?image=3. 
  24. ↑ "UK committed to developing drone capabilities on its state-of-the-art aircraft carriers". Forces News. 22 May 2024. https://www.forcesnews.com/services/navy/uk-assessing-options-increase-air-wing-carriers. "The minister responded: "The Royal Navy is committed to developing capabilities that will allow it to build combat mass, whilst remaining at the forefront of technology, and this includes a strong focus on uncrewed air systems." 
  25. ↑ "Why the Royal Navy is turning to jet-sized drones to boost British firepower". Daily Telegraph. 9 November 2023. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2024/11/09/plan-hms-prince-of-wales-worlds-first-drone-carrier/. 
  26. ↑ "U.K. Aircraft Carrier HMS Prince of Wales Launches, Recovers Mojave Drone". United States Naval Institute. 17 November 2023. https://news.usni.org/2023/11/17/u-k-aircraft-carrier-hms-prince-of-wales-launches-recovers-mojave-drone. 
  27. ↑ Allison, George (18 November 2023). "Project Ark Royal – Plans for angled decks and drones". UK Defence Journal. https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/project-ark-royal-plans-for-angled-decks-and-drones/. 
  28. ↑ "General Atomics proposes its Gambit UCAV concept for Royal Navy’s aircraft carriers". NavyLookout. 24 July 2024. https://www.navylookout.com/general-atomics-proposes-its-gambit-ucav-concept-for-qec-class-aircraft-carriers/. 



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