Engineering:Project Vixen

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Project Vixen is the name of a Royal Navy programme examining the use of fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) from its two aircraft carriers. The project likely draws its name from the de Havilland Sea Vixen, notable for being the Royal Navy's first two-seat carrier-based aircraft capable of supersonic flight.[1]

Background

HMS Queen Elizabeth, one of two Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.

The Royal Navy operates two aircraft carriers of the Queen Elizabeth-class, HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) and HMS Prince of Wales (R09). Both of these ships feature a short take-off and vertical landing (STOVL) configuration which means they are limited to operating STOVL aircraft, such as the Lockheed Martin F-35B Lightning II, tiltrotor aircraft, or helicopters. This has presented the Royal Navy little choice in aircraft to undertake air-to-air refuelling, carrier on-board delivery and airborne early warning missions, which are better suited to heavier catapult-assisted barrier arrested recovery (CATOBAR) aircraft.[2][3] Fixed-wing UAVs, however, are typically lighter than conventional aircraft and, due to this, they have been considered for these missions by the Royal Navy.[1] In 2012, speaking on the behalf of the Ministry of Defence (MOD), Defence Minister, Philip Dunne, stated publicly that he expected the Royal Navy to utilise UAVs from the Queen Elizabeth-class "at some point during their 50-year lifespans".[4] When questioned about the prospect again, in 2016, another Defence Minister, Earl Howe, stated that the Royal Navy viewed them as an "operational advantage", adding that the Queen Elizabeth-class had extensive flight decks, hangars and engineering support facilities to accommodate them.[5] He also revealed that the Royal Navy had evaluated capability concept demonstrators with Joint Forces Command in 2015.[6] In January 2021, it was reported that the Royal Navy was seeking a heavy lift UAV for the aircraft carriers to assist with logistics.[7]

Overview

On 24 March 2021, Project Vixen was first revealed to the public as a programme to evaluate the use of fixed-wing UAVs from the Queen Elizabeth-class.[8] The programme is reportedly examining their use in strike and air-to-air refuelling missions.[1] During the same month, the MOD also issued a Request For Information (RFI) to the defence industry for electromagnetic catapults and arrestor cables capable of launching and recovering aircraft with a maximum weight of 24,948 kilograms (55,001 lb) and 21,319 kilograms (47,000 lb), respectively. The RFI also specified a need to install the system to the aircraft carriers within three–five years.[9][10] Due to being somewhat underpowered for manned fighter aircraft, like the F-35C, the system is more likely to be used for UAV's.[10]

According to an official Royal Navy publication, titled Future Maritime Aviation Force, which was originally published in December 2020, the Royal Navy aims to replace its helicopter-based airborne early warning (AEW) platform, the Merlin HM2 Crowsnest, with a fixed-wing UAV, currently known as Vixen, by 2030. The Royal Navy also expects to utilise Vixen in surveillance, air-to-air refueling, electronic warfare and strike roles.[11]

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Lye, Harry (24 March 2021). "Royal Navy Project Vixen exploring potential Carrier UAS". Naval Technology. https://www.naval-technology.com/news/royal-navy-project-vixen-exploring-potential-carrier-uas/. 
  2. ↑ Majumdar, Dave (5 October 2018). "New Carrier, New Fighters: The F-35B Is Now Aboard Britain’s Queen Elizabeth Aircraft Carrier". The National Interest. https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/new-carrier-new-fighters-f-35b-now-aboard-britain%E2%80%99s-queen-elizabeth-aircraft-carrier-32887. 
  3. ↑ "Cats, traps and claptrap. Why the Royal Navy’s new aircraft carriers operate VSTOL aircraft". Navy Lookout. 19 October 2019. https://www.navylookout.com/cats-traps-and-claptrap-why-the-royal-navys-new-aircraft-carriers-operate-vstol-aircraft/. 
  4. ↑ "Unmanned Air Vehicles". They Work For You. 25 November 2012. https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2012-11-26d.129541.h&s=aircraft+carriers+unmanned#g129541.q0. 
  5. ↑ "Aircraft Carriers: Unmanned Air Vehicles". They Work For You. 2 March 2016. https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2016-02-25.HL6440.h&s=aircraft+carriers+unmanned. 
  6. ↑ "Aircraft Carriers: Unmanned Air Vehicles". https://www.theyworkforyou.com/wrans/?id=2015-07-20.HL1670.h&s=aircraft+carriers+unmanned. 
  7. ↑ "Royal Navy looking for heavy lift drone". UK Defence Journal. 1 January 2021. https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/royal-navy-looking-for-heavy-lift-drone/. 
  8. ↑ "Maritime Enterprise Planning Group". https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/975455/20210303-MAvn-MEPG_Slides-FINAL-O.pdf. 
  9. ↑ "Electromagnetic Catapults For Carriers Sought By UK Royal Navy". Aviation Week. 1 March 2021. https://aviationweek.com/defense-space/aircraft-propulsion/electromagnetic-catapults-carriers-sought-uk-royal-navy. 
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Lye, Harry (9 March 2021). "Royal Navy seeking information on cats and traps to launch drones". Naval Technology. https://www.naval-technology.com/features/uk-carrier-cats-and-traps/. 
  11. ↑ Allison, George (2 April 2021). "Royal Navy looking at fixed-wing carrier based drone for AEW". UK Defence Journal. https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/royal-navy-looking-at-fixed-wing-carrier-based-drone-for-aew/. 




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