Royal Navy races to arm ships against drone threat
- Reference: 1773048613
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2026/03/09/uks_royal_navy_desperately_seeking/
- Source link:
The Ministry of Defence (MoD) has issued a Request for Information (RFI) from industry, to gather details and refine requirements ahead of a potential tender under the codename of Project TALON, as spotted by defense site [1]UK Defence Journal .
The program is moving fast as the MoD wants responses by March 17, and if it goes ahead with the procurement, expects to issue a contract and take delivery of the initial capability within one month.
[2]
The [3]RFI (Word document) calls for a "rapidly procured and installable Counter UAS (unmanned aircraft system) capability" that is "suitable for maritime platforms to detect, track, identify, and defeat airborne threats."
[4]
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Project TALON will combine a mix of "effectors" both kinetic and non-kinetic to counter the threats posed by the proliferation of drones, and is intended to complement current complex missile-based systems, including the [6]Sea Ceptor rolling out across the Royal Navy's frigates and destroyers.
Kinetic implies the use of a projectile or missile to down a drone through force of impact or by explosive means. Non-kinetic involves the use of lasers, microwaves or electronic jamming to disable it.
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The RFI also talks of adopting a "system of systems" approach to introduce mass via numerous low-cost effectors. This implies that more than one type of weapon will be required, such as a gun system combined with low-cost short-range missiles, for example.
[8]UK mobilizes lawyers to keep report on Gatwick 'drone' chaos under wraps
[9]Iranian news service claims drone strikes on AWS were deliberate, to probe for US datacenter dependencies
[10]British military to get legal OK to swat drones near bases
[11]British Army's drone degree program set to take flight
[12]Royal Navy's helicopter drone makes its first autonomous flight
The RN also wants to focus on mature products, meaning it will likely be a package of existing weapons systems and sensors.
Whatever solution is chosen, it is expected to operate with a high degree of autonomy, most likely to avoid the need for a lengthy integration process with the fire control systems and sensors of Royal Navy ships that would stymie a rapid deployment.
The famous Phalanx close-in weapon system (CIWS) is an example of this, as it has its own radar and can track and engage threats by itself when enabled.
Project TALON is expected to defeat NATO Class 2 uncrewed air systems, which covers medium-sized drones up to about 600 kg in weight, covering the Shahed 136 and its [13]LUCAS counterpart that the Iranians and Americans are using in the current gulf conflict.
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The chosen system must give the host ship a defended area of between 100 km 2 up to 2,500 km 2 (about 965 square miles), and engage at least 25 targets before reloading, though 100 targets is the desired benchmark.
The Royal Navy is already due to receive the [15]DragonFire laser weapon , capable of defeating high-speed drones, but it will be fitted initially to one Type 45 destroyer in 2027, before being rolled out more widely if all goes well.
Already in service are Royal Navy Wildcat helicopters, which carry the Martlet, or Lightweight Multirole Missile. This is a laser-guided weapon designed to disable fast attack boats, but has proven to be [16]equally capable of taking out aerial drones in trials.
The MoD announced that two Martlet-armed Wildcats are being deployed to the Eastern Mediterranean amid the ongoing Iran conflict. ®
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[1] https://ukdefencejournal.org.uk/royal-navy-seeks-rapid-counter-drone-capability-for-ships/
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offprem/edgeiot&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2aa6oUGM06IvAh1Bsa7JWYQAAAQQ&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://www.contractsfinder.service.gov.uk/Notice/Attachment/e2c29093-ef64-476a-ad54-4112f7f8b5eb
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offprem/edgeiot&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aa6oUGM06IvAh1Bsa7JWYQAAAQQ&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offprem/edgeiot&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aa6oUGM06IvAh1Bsa7JWYQAAAQQ&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[6] https://www.mbda-systems.com/products/force-protection/camm-family/sea-ceptor
[7] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offprem/edgeiot&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44aa6oUGM06IvAh1Bsa7JWYQAAAQQ&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2026/03/06/gatwick_drone_tribunal/
[9] https://www.theregister.com/2026/03/06/iran_news_aws_drone_strikes/
[10] https://www.theregister.com/2026/02/03/armed_forces_bill_drones/
[11] https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/22/british_army_invests_in_drone_degree/
[12] https://www.theregister.com/2026/01/19/helicopter_drone_for_royal_navy/
[13] https://www.theregister.com/2026/03/02/us_iran_clone_drones/
[14] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_offprem/edgeiot&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33aa6oUGM06IvAh1Bsa7JWYQAAAQQ&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[15] https://www.theregister.com/2025/11/24/royal_navy_dragonfire_laser/
[16] https://www.theregister.com/2025/10/22/royal_navy_martlet/
[17] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: You owe me a new keyboard!
Maybe they'll piggyback on some of the systems currently being made for Ukraine.
Re: You owe me a new keyboard!
When you have worked in defence systems as long as I have you will know that it will take at least 6 months to get together the committee who are going to decide on the official definition of the word "drone".
P.S. what colour do you want it to be?
Re: You owe me a new keyboard!
Which is precisely the kind of thing we need to know, I mean, do people want an anti-drone system that can be fitted nasally?
(Apologies to DNA!)
-----------> After nasal insertion!
Re: You owe me a new keyboard!
Can you get it ready in oh say roughly how long it takes to sail from here to Cyprus?
RFI?
So you have identified a threat to your ships, you need to implement something ASAP and you have to issue an RFI first ............... glad procurement process appears top be more important than capability
This is the kind of thinking/knowledge that should just exist in your organisation because you employ competent people. They should have a working knowledge of what is out there in the market and a shortlist already of suppliers/equipment that they know have this capability, why do you need a "Request for Information"?
Re: RFI?
In case there are other players in the market with unique capabilities or at a much lower price point than the old-boys network that you're used to dealing with.
Re: RFI?
They need this information so that the requirements can be specifically tailored to exclude these suppliers, so that the usual suspects will get the contract!
Re: RFI?
Remember what happened when they got rid of the process during Covid? Do you want Michelle Mone selling anti-drone lasers to the MoD?
Re: RFI?
Competent people would have sent out that RFI when Ukraine managed to hit the russian Black Sea vessels and probably although asked for systems targeting sea bound threats (repurposed jet skis).
Weeks you say? Totally understandable, it's not as if there has been a nearby years long war with massive use of offensive drones happening that could have prompted there idea of "anti drone" systems maybe possibly being a good idea in the near future. Who could have possibly forseen that.
Careful Noodle
You may upset old Johnny Rubber Desk at Whitehall with your wit! :)
Yes, you'd think a war that's now into its fifth year, would have triggered a reaction sooner, however, I suspect the RN have just realised how few ships they have and how long it takes to replace one, particularly if it's been malleted by much cheaper drones....
In the space of weeks? I guess issuing semi automatic shotguns to the crew might be somewhat viable...
You owe me a new keyboard!
Spat my coffee out when it said to be delivered in ... WEEKS!