UK Launch “Project Vanquish” to Develop Carrier-Based Jet-powered UAV Fleet to Support F-35B for the Royal Navy

The United Kingdom has initiated a major step toward expanding its carrier aviation capabilities with the launch of “Project Vanquish”, an ambitious effort to acquire a new class of jet-powered Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) designed to operate alongside the F-35B Lightning II on the Royal Navy’s Queen Elizabeth-class aircraft carriers.

Revealed through a Request for Information (RFI) contract published on October 3, Project Vanquish outlines the Royal Navy’s requirement for an autonomous, multi-role, carrier-capable UAV that can support both combat and support missions.

Key Requirements and Capabilities

According to the RFI, the UAV must have unassisted Short Take-Off and Landing (STOL) capability from the Queen Elizabeth-class carriers, which lack catapults or arresting gear. This constraint demands a highly capable airframe capable of operating from short decks similar to the F-35B’s vertical landing system.

The UAV is expected to be jet-powered, achieving high subsonic speeds, and must carry a credible payload with endurance suitable for long-duration missions. The aircraft will be multi-role, tasked to conduct Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), strike, and even air-to-air refueling operations.

An essential element of the design is its autonomous operation—the UAV must be able to function independently or in coordination with manned aircraft, expanding the air wing’s operational reach, flexibility, and persistence.

Timeline and Development Goals

Under Project Vanquish, interested defense manufacturers have until mid-November 2025 to submit their proposals. The Ministry of Defence plans to maintain a tight 18-month development timeline, targeting a demonstration flight from a Royal Navy carrier by the end of 2026.

The program aims to accelerate manned-unmanned teaming (MUM-T) capabilities, enabling the Royal Navy to integrate UAVs with the existing F-35B fleet in the near term, rather than waiting for longer-term next-generation platforms.

Global Context and Inspiration

The Royal Navy’s initiative aligns with a broader international trend toward carrier-based unmanned operations. The United States Navy pioneered early efforts with Northrop Grumman’s X-47B in the early 2000s, followed by Boeing’s MQ-25 Stingray, which has since conducted successful carrier-based refueling tests.

Similarly, Turkey has pursued its own carrier-borne UAV program with the Bayraktar Kızılelma operating from the TCG Anadolu, marking a growing shift toward integrated unmanned carrier aviation across multiple nations.

Operational Challenges and Future Outlook

Operating fast, heavy UAVs from the Royal Navy’s ski-jump-equipped carriers presents unique challenges. Without arrestor gear or catapult systems, aircraft must rely on short or vertical takeoff and landing techniques, a constraint that heavily influences UAV design. Recent tests—such as the launch of a Mojave UAV from HMS Prince of Wales—demonstrated that drone operations from UK carriers are feasible, setting the stage for larger and more advanced systems.

Project Vanquish represents a pragmatic step toward strengthening the UK’s naval aviation capabilities by introducing autonomous air systems that can complement and extend the effectiveness of manned platforms. If successful, it would mark a significant evolution in Royal Navy operations, positioning the United Kingdom among the few nations with operational carrier-based unmanned combat aircraft.